Sure Start with a huge heart

All across Hampshire, Sure Start Children’s Centres offer parents, carers and their children up to age five a great range of services. We went to visit Butterflies Children’s Centre at Manor Infant School in Farnborough to find out more.

The aim of children’s centres is to give every child the best possible start in life. They make it easy for families to access healthcare, play facilities, and support and information tailored to their needs. Butterflies Children’s Centre is one of three centres in Farnborough – a bustling, densely populated town that includes lots of Army families among its residents.Liz Morley-Smith, who runs Butterflies, is clearly proud of the bright, welcoming atmosphere that she and her team have created since the centre opened last year. Liz simply loves making things happen, and prides herself on offering exactly what local parents want: “The first group to use the centre were our teenage parents,” she explains. “At first they were understandably hesitant, but now they feel totally at home here – they even helped choose the furniture and equipment.

”Parents of all ages can bring their babies or young children to the centre and enjoy meeting with other parents while the little ones play. The centre also provides midwifery and parent-craft classes, and much emphasis is placed on ‘outreach’ services, which see Liz and her colleagues taking the services offered at the centre out into the community.

New this summer is the dads’ group. For one Saturday a month, dads will have their own session at Butterflies. “It’s a chance for them to become totally involved with their children through play and to meet other fathers,” says Liz.  “They can also ask us any questions they may have about their children’s development.”

A helping hand

One family that has certainly benefited from the helpful service that the centre offers is Katrina Ingman and her ten-month-old twins Ava and James. Katrina joined the centre in November 2008. Sadly, baby Ava contracted meningitis on New Year’s Day and, as a result, is now profoundly deaf. Katrina, who also has a five-year-old daughter, Carys, was going to find it challenging enough to cope with the twins, but found that she needed extra support following Ava’s illness.

“My husband is in the Army and we arrived here for a three-year posting after several years in Ripon, Yorkshire. It was quite overwhelming to come to such a large town from such a small one, and the centre has been invaluable in helping me to feel part of the community,” says Katrina.On the day we met Katrina, she and the twins were taking part in a Baby Sensory Session, where parents and babies enjoy music, lights, movement and gesture.  It’s a great time for the little ones, whose senses are really stimulated by this type of play. Baby Ava, who faces an operation this summer to place implants behind her ears that will hopefully restore her hearing, seemed to be enjoying it as much as her brother James.

Looking to the future, Katrina will be part of a new parents’ forum at the centre.  She clearly relishes the opportunity to be more involved: “It’s such a lovely environment to bring your children into.”

Did you know…?

There are currently 60 children’s centres in Hampshire and by 2010 there will be another 25 – one for every community. For more information on children’s centres visit our webpages or phone 0845 603 5620.