Watford YMCA runs SureStart Childrens Centres

Help for families with young children

SureStart is a Government programme intended to provide the best possible start in life for every child. Aimed at families with children under five, SureStart Children’s Centres are evolving as an integrated source for childcare, early education, health services, support and information.

Watford & District YMCA is lead provider for two local Sure Start Children’s Centres. The first to open was Littlebury Children’s Centre in Mildred Ave, WestWatford, followed shortly after by the Beechfield Children’s Centre in the grounds of Beechfield School, Gammons Lane, North Watford. (See full contact details below)

The Centres offer regular stay & play sessions and an under 1’s baby group for families. They also work in partnership with pit-a-pat-a (baby massage), Chatterbox Babies (baby signing) and Mums of Steel (post natal exercise classes). Services are being continually developed and expanded in consultation and with the help of local communities.
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Watch a 4 minute video about SureStart Childrens Centres

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Helen Walsh, based at Beechfield, manages both these Children’s Centres with the support of co-ordinators Clare Benjamin and Baljit Chhina. In addition, outreach workers Julie Riding and Sara Corre run sessions in the community and offer home visits to families.

To support the SureStart venture, the YMCA has over the past two years partnered with West Herts College to deliver relevant adult education courses in “childcare” and “how to become a teaching assistant”.

The YMCA is committed to offering quality activities and programmes, ensuring that all services are delivered by fully qualified professionals who are experienced and knowledgeable practitioners.

However, the centres always need volunteers to provide practical help and language support.

Could you help your local Childrens Centre as a Volunteer?

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Volunteers Needed

Help your local Childrens Centre

Would you like the chance to learn a new skill, gain training and help others? Then why not become a Childrens Centre Volunteer?

Volunteers in your local Children's Centre support the professional staff in various groups and activities, have an active role to play in the Children's Centre and support new parents accessing the centre for the first time. Volunteers with foreign language skills are especially welcome right now! It doesn’t matter how much or how little time you are able to give - from an hour or two once a week to five days a week - there’s no limit to the volunteering opportunities on offer

+++ PLUS +++ while volunteering, the Centre can help you to gain a qualification, learn new skills, become highly valued in your local community and find work experience.

You decide how you want to volunteer and which activities you’d like to help with.

To find out more or to offer your services as a volunteer, just contact your local centre on 01923 243564 (Littlebury) or 01923 482862 (Beechfield).

For further information or to request an application pack please contact your local Childrens Centre (see full contact details below), telephone the Family Information Service on 01923 471502 or visit http://www.hertschildrenscentres.org.uk/ or www.hertsdirect.org/younginherts

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Contacts

Littlebury Childrens Centre

Littlebury Hall, Mildred Avenue, Watford, Hertfordshire,
WD18 7DY

Telephone: 01923 243564

http://www.hertschildrenscentres.org.uk/littlebury/index.html

Location map
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Beechfield Childrens Centre

BeechfieldSchool, Gammons Lane, Watford.WD24 5TY

Telephone: 01923 482862

http://www.hertschildrenscentres.org.uk/beechfield/index.html

Location map

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Centres Manager

Helen Walsh

Email: helenwalsh@watfordymca.com

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See a video about the work of a Childcare Centres Manager:

Full list of SureStart Childrens’ Centres in Watford and surrounding areas

This article was created on Thursday, 26th March 2009. It was last tinkered with on Thursday, 30th April 2009.

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