Centre is a helping hand for parents (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Centre is a helping hand for parents

9:49am Thursday 31st July 2008

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Young families in the Devizes area now have help on hand with the opening of Devizes Community Children's Centre.

Town mayor Jane Burton cut the ribbon to officially open the centre on the grounds of Southbroom Infants School last Thursday.

It is one of 20 centres in Wiltshire set up by the Government as part of their war on child poverty. Another ten centres will be open in the county in the next two years.

Centre manager Trixie Avery said: "This is not just for people in the town but for everyone in the Devizes community area, including villages around.

"We will be open through the summer holidays for families with children under five to come in and use."

Although there are set times to drop in for advice or a chat, the centre is open from 9am each weekday and staff will be happy to help.

Every Monday from 9am to noon is talk time when anyone can drop in or phone in and speak to Mrs Avery about their problems.

Monday afternoons, from 1pm to 2.30pm there are parent and baby yoga sessions.

On Wednesdays the National Childbirth Trust runs its Bumps and Babies Group from 10am to 11.30am, while from 1pm to 2.30pm the Breastfeeding Support Group has its children's café.

There is a children's café on Thursday from 9.30am to 2.30pm as well and, from 7pm to 9pm on the first and second Thursdays of the month parent education with the midwifery service.

Every Friday there is a free referral stay and play session from 9.30am to 11am.

Steve Botham, chairman of governors at Southbroom Infants School, said he was delighted with the way the centre had developed.

He said: "This is just what Devizes needs. We are losing a lot of our services and the centre will be able to provide some of them.

"It means that we can provide care from birth all on the one site."

Mrs Avery said the services currently offered are the start of what she hopes will be available in time. She is also interested to hear from local parents prepared to give time as volunteers.

The centre, funded by the Government's Sure Start Scheme and Wiltshire County Council, is based in two former classrooms at the infants school, now surplus to requirements since its £750,000 extension was opened.

The centre also offers an outreach service and more information is available by calling (01380) 738691 or by visiting the website www.devizeschildrenscentre.org.uk

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