Page 19 - link magazine

swindonlink.com • December 2011 19
Butterflies Children’s Centre offers
key services to the community

In just a year Butterflies Children’s Centre has grown immensely and
is desperate for more space to provide services and facilities for North
Swindon families.
Butterflies offers a one-stop shop There are Family Support Work-
providing advice, family support, ers and a Parent Support Advisor
learning and play activities for based at the Centre, who work on an
parents and carers with children individual basis with families facing
aged 5 and under across the nine a variety of difficulties ranging from
thousand homes in Abbey Meads having children with challenging
and Groundwell, St Andrews behaviour, those experiencing do-
Ridge, Ash Brake, Bridlewood, mestic violence, post natal depres-
Redhouse, Oakhurst, Taw Hill and sion or low mental health or other
Haydon End. specific problems within the family.

Children’s centre manager Tanya Parkinson and Abbey Meads Primary School
headteacher Bob Buckley watch author Neil Griffiths cut the ribbon to officially open
Butterflies with Justin Tomlinson MP, left, coun David Renard, Swindon Council
cabinet member for children’s services and library services Buffer Bear
The centre moved into purpose At an opening fete launched by
built rooms at Abbey Meads Com- Swindon children’s author Neil
munity Primary school in the Griffiths on 28 October, Abbey The Springboard to
spring, having first established Meads primary headteacher Bob Confidence for your child
itself in a temporary building with Buckley said: “It’s a pleasure to have
two large meeting rooms, next to the Butterflies Children’s Centre at Britain’s leading National Active Physical Play programme
Catherine Wayte Primary School, our school. Tanya is an outstanding for children from 6 months to 7 years.
at the other end of Elstree Way in leader of an excellent team. Consid- Your child will learn agility, balance, climbing,
Abbey Meads. A weekly stay and ering that they are covering a huge co-ordination appropriate to his or her age.
play group, baby massage and area, with a large number of families, Structured programmes designed to build
groups for babies under 1 year old the team have done an amazing job self confidence and develop essential
also takes place in the community in a short space of time.” listening and language skills.
rooms at Oakhurst Primary School. North Swindon MP Justin Tom- Supervised by trained staff in a fun and
Centre manager Tanya Parkin- linson added: “Butterflies have caring environment.
son, said: “The high density of hous- done exceptional work to set up Tumble Tots now in your area!
ing and the baby boom in North so many groups and provide indi- For information about local centres call
Swindon means we have a very vidual support to parents in only
large number of families within our a year. There is a really positive Liz Davies
area. Meeting places in the area are atmosphere about Butterflies.” on 0844 800 0219
few in number and our challenge Coun David Renard, Swin-
is to find enough space to run a don Council cabinet member for
variety of groups and drop-ins. children’s services agreed. “The
We’re desperate to start activities northern sector is a challenge; it
in Redhouse.” may surprise people that there are
Apart from drop-in stay and play a significant number of vulnerable
activities, Butterflies has become a families here.
base for baby health and midwife “Butterflies are doing a tremen- Close to M4 junction 16, just a short drive from West Swindon
clinics. A young mums group, dous job to provide help and guid-
Swindon Twins or More, a dads ance and I realise that the centre For children 3 months to five years
group, and a Mandarin Mums is oversubscribed. We’re looking Open all year from 8am to 6pm
group have established themselves closely at what we can do to provide
there. In January Little Ninjas will more space to organise activities.” Extensive outdoor play & gardens
start daytime classes at the centre. For details call Butterflies on Easy access and safe parking
Butterflies also offers stress 722984.
management and parenting skills The activity timetable is dis- For information call: 01793 851495
courses, offers advice with CV played in local schools, pre-schools
building, skills matching and train- and North Swindon Library, and www.thedaynursery.com
ing opportunities, linked with Job also at: www.abbeymeads.swin- Brinkworth Road, Wootton Bassett, Swindon SN4 8DS
Centre Plus. don.sch.uk

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