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Official
opening of the Furzeham Children's Centre
On Thursday 17th July a new children's centre was officially
opened promising great start for children in Brixham.
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Paignton and Brixham
Children's Centres, part of Torbay Council, saw their new Sure
Start Children's Centre located at Furzeham Primary School,
officially opened by Cllr Vic Ellery, Ward Councillor for Berry
Head with Furzeham.
Invited guests were
able to visit the fabulously furnished new building and find
out more about how Children's Centre services will benefit the
local community, with the event offering fun activities
for children and refreshments, including a celebratory cake
to mark the occasion. |
| Sue Bradbury, Manager of Paignton and
Brixham Children's Centre said, "This is the opportunity
for all the Children's Centre partners to come together to view
the new premises in which we will provide much needed services
for the community of Brixham. It is also a chance to thank all
those involved in the creation for their hard work and commitment
to the project." |
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The centre will provide a base from which
to deliver support services and activities for children in the
local area, focusing on the 0 to 5s. The overall vision is to
ensure that every child gets the best start in life and that
every parent has access to information and advice on issues
such as parenting, employment and quality childcare. |
| Whilst the downstairs space offers an
office, disabled toilets, multipurpose room for activities meetings
and counselling, and a nursery for 3-5 year olds, the stairs and
lift allow easy access to the large rooms on the second floor.
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Kira Northmore, Brixham Children's Centre Lead,
Paignton and Brixham Children's Centres said, “The centre is a
one stop shop service for families, including training, health
information, family support, child care and information and advice.
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We are very excited
that the venue has two rooms upstairs widening the scope of
activities we can provide for families. Sessions will include:
Stay and Play, Baby Café, Post Natal Exercise and many
types of training for parents as we can have a large crèche
and study area.”
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With the centre now open,
Kira was keen to point out that from next Tuesday Stay &
Play sessions will be in operation, whilst every Wednesday throughout
the summer holidays Outdoor Stay & Play sessions will be
available. From September many sessions will get underway with
groups such as Active Tots, Gymnastics for Young Children, Post
Natal Exercise, Food Hygiene, Cooking with Children and Ideas
for Play in the Home, being a few of the planned workshops.
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The
centre will be working in partnership with Furzeham Primary
School and Cllr Anna Tolchard, Cabinet Member for Children's
Services said: "Furzeham Primary School is a marvellous
site. I'm delighted that Brixham children and their families
are set to benefit from this new centre.
The centre will help
families to juggle today's demands of combining working life
with being effective and concerned parents, out to do their
level best for their children especially while they are at this
early stage in their development." |
The
full list of services includes:
• excellent
quality early-learning combined with full day care provision
for children (minimum ten hours a day, five days a week,
48 weeks a year)
• child
and family health services, including ante-natal services,
smoking cessation and breast feeding
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family support services, both on site at the children's
centre bases and on an outreach basis
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a base for a childminder network
• support
for children and parents with special needs
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effective links with Jobcentre Plus to support parents/carers
who wish to consider training or employment.
• links
to child-minder services
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support and outreach services for parents/carers and children
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information and advice to parents/carers on a range of subjects,
including: local childcare, looking after babies and young
children, local early years provision (childcare and early
learning) education services for three and four year olds
and parenting advice
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drop-in sessions and other activities for children and carers
at the centre
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teenage pregnancy and parenting support
'one stop shop' - links to specialist services.
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