Tisbury Sure Start Children’s Centre
Enabling Families to Flourish
Tisbury Children’s Centre is now open in its own building.
The good news for Tisbury and surrounding villages is that the Children’s Centre opened its doors on Saturday 17th April. Located on the same site as the pre-school and primary school we are equipped with lots of new toys and equipment and with a newly appointed, energetic and dedicated staff team. We are now running a variety of activities aimed at families with children up to 5 years old. Our official opening celebration will take place on 5th June from 10 to 12:30. There will be a clown to entertain the children, and an opportunity to look round with refreshments provided. Come along and see what we have to offer.
Your views sought
Activities currently taking place are listed below but we would like to hear from you. Please tell us what you’d like us to provide. We have produced a short survey and copies are available in Tisbury Library and will also be sent home with children attending nurseries in the area. If you have young children we would love to hear from you. If you’d prefer to send us an email or text you can. Send emails to Angie Hughes, angela.hughes@actionforchildren.org.uk or text us on 07889 603623.
What is a Children’s Centre and what area will the Tisbury one serve?
Children’s Centres are part of a nationwide Government initiative. They are a one stop shop for information, support and advice. They offer a range of services to families with children under 5 years old and work closely with other professionals. Wiltshire Council has commissioned Action for Children to set up and run the Centre in Tisbury.
Although the centre is based in Tisbury, the work reaches out to the surrounding villages. These include the Donheads, Ludwell, Ansty, Swallowcliffe, Sutton Mandeville, Fovant, Wardour, Berwick St John, Alvediston, Tollard Royal and villages in between. We can bring our services and activities out to your village and will be consulting with people in these areas over the next couple of months. Of course villagers are very welcome to come to the sessions in Tisbury too. If you live in these villages, and have young children, do get in touch and tell us what you’d like us to do for you and your young family.
For further details you can contact Eileen Brocklehurst, the Centre Co-ordinator on 01747 870449, or by email at eileen.brocklehurst@actionforchildren.org.uk
Activities currently being held
Stay and Play Every Monday other than Bank Holidays. These are held in the Centre from 9:30 to 11:30. There is no charge to attend and adults with their children up to 5 years old can come on a drop in basis. Childminders, mums, dads, grannies, granddads, uncles, aunts – all are welcome.
Budgets and Bargains. This fun programme is also free and run by Wiltshire Council’s Family Learning Team. The 10 week programme is just coming to an end but look out for another Family Learning Programme starting soon.
Messy Play. Every Wednesday afternoon in the Centre from 1 o’clock to 2.30pm. Aprons are provided and your child will enjoy a different activity each week such as water play, hand and foot painting and using pasta to paint.
Tea and Toast Drop-in. Every Thursday morning our doors are open from 8.30 am for you to drop-in and
have a look around. You can meet some of the staff and enjoy a drink, a slice of toast and a chat with friends.
Come and have your baby weighed. On the first Monday of every month Sandie Hillier, Community Nursery Nurse, will be at the Centre between 10 and 11.30 to weigh your baby and provide advice on issues such as weaning and sleeping. Bring your baby and your Red Book. No appointment necessary.
Coming soon. Other activities are being considered such as baby massage and a sing and sign group. A support group for breastfeeding mothers, run by other mothers, will be starting up on Wednesday mornings soon. During the summer we will be continuing with our Monday morning Stay and Play, other than on the Bank Holiday. We are also planning a range of other activities and getting out and about into some of the surrounding villages. Look out for more details in our next newsletter or telephone us to find out more.
We look forward to hearing from you or seeing you soon.
The Tisbury Team is Eileen Brocklehurst (Centre Co-ordinator), Angie Hughes (Administrator),
Kirsty Sheppard (Outreach Worker), Carla Russell and Lisa Hatton (Play Workers)
Tisbury Sure Start Children’s Centre, Weaveland Road, Tisbury SP3 6HJ. Telephone 01747 870449.
