THE Canberra Children’s Centre reopened its doors last week following the easing of lockdown restrictions.
The centre, which is managed by Spurgeons Children’s Charity and funded by Wiltshire Council, provides a whole host of services to any family with a 0 to 5 year old.
Throughout lockdown the centre has delivered all of its services online, but last week marked the return of a limited number of services to the centre, which is located next to Young Melksham’s youth centre on Spa Road, including its ‘Bookstart’ group.
And as restrictions continue to be eased, more of the centre’s services and groups will return.
The charity has also launched a new website so that families in Melksham and the rest of Wiltshire have access to information and advice at all times of the day.
“Although we’ve continued delivering all of our services online,” explains Russell Martin from Spurgeons Children’s Charity, “lots of families need that reassuring bit of information at all hours of the day, and so we hope that this will be a really fantastic resource for them.”
About the Canberra Children’s Centre’s reopening, Russell told Melksham News, “The centre re-opened last week, although owing to the distancing rules we can only have a certain number of people in the buildings at any one time, and so we are beginning with small groups first and individual one to one family support work.
“The group currently running is called Bookstart, and this is all about reading together, talking through day to day routines, singing nursery rhymes etc, because we know that a child’s brain grows so much more quickly when there is lots of communication going on around them at home.
“In our Studley Green Children’s Centre in Trowbridge we are running a group called Early Words Together, and this can also be accessed by families living in the Melksham area and is also about early learning and communication skills.
“If people are wanting to drop in just to speak to a member of staff then we are open for that too, although we are suggesting that they phone first just to check that there is room otherwise they might need to wait outside for a little bit.
“Our family support home visiting service is also now back up and running, whereas during lockdown it was online only.
“This service is for anyone with a 0 to 5 year old who would like a little bit of extra support around things such as budgeting, struggling with isolation, emotional wellbeing and parenting advice.
“All of our other services are still online, and the website has information about each and every one. For example, our parenting course is called Being a Parent and it is designed to be delivered by parent volunteers (trained and supported by us) so that it’s a case of parents supporting parents.
“It has worked really well online, but we are really looking forward to being able to have more of these face to face as the lockdown eases further.
“Other services which are also still being delivered online are Early Words Together and Little Learners, both of which focus on those early learning experiences, and which families can sign up to by going to the website.
“We also have a group called Five to Thrive, where families learn and practice the five things which give all children the best start in life. It’s a bit like the five pieces of fruit and veg a day, but in this case it’s five different building blocks which we all need to grow into happy and resilient adults. It is a really amazing programme and there is a lot of information online about where it comes from and why it is important.
“Once distancing rules allow, we will then be fully back with our services such as child and family first aid, cookery and nutrition and crafty sessions.”
About the new website, Russell explains, “The website has lots of newsletters and activity ideas which families can use if they are unable to join us online or in the centre.
“These will be updated regularly and are all about inexpensive ways of engaging smaller children with activities which also help them to learn about the world around them.
“There is information about some of our partners, such as the health visiting team, and there is even information about volunteering with us or getting back into work.
“We have recently worked with another organisation called ABC Cook, and will shortly have videos uploaded which will show families how to make easy, nutritious food on a budget.”
The website to visit is: www.wiltshirechildrenscentres.org.uk
