Page 19 - link magazine

Memories to cherish for a lifetime
Lyn Hartman, co-founder of Memory Makers, looks back on the first two
years of a groundbreaking project which links children at primary school
with volunteer mentors.
How can Musical Minis help your child be ...
.. a skillful communicator - by developing
language and co-ordination.
.. emotionally developed - through sharing stories
and songs whilst meeting new friends.
.. a confident child - by joining in the activities
in a relaxed group atmosphere.
.. a creative child - by exploring instruments,
sounds, rhythm and movement.
Phone Chrissie on 01793 725259
www.musicalminis.co.uk
Musical Minis is a pre-school fun time music group for babies and toddlers.
Each structured session encourages cognitive, physical and emotional
development through the use of music, instruments and stories.

LittLe Foxes ChiLdCare
& eduCation
Michelle and Lucy, promoting Memory Makers in the December
2014 Link FOR CHILDREN AND THEIR PARENTS
Established 1986
For the past 18 months, every other “Michelle is very proud to have The Common, Brinkworth, Wilts
Wednesday, graphic designer Lucy been the first child ever to have Tel: 01666 510356
has knocked on Michelle’s door to a Memory Maker and she now Just a 15 minute drive from West Swindon & Priory Vale on B4042
take her out. helps train the new volunteers. She l An independent family run nursery offering quality care and education within a safe,
Over the next few hours they is confident speaking in front of secure, stimulating environment for all babies and children from 0-5 and an out of
have, amongst other things, played a group of adults she’s never met school club for children aged 5-11 years
on the swings at Lydiard Park, learnt before and asks them interesting l Open: Monday to Friday, 7.30am-6.30pm, 51 weeks of the year
how to arrange flowers, painted old questions.” l Full, part time and term time places. Government funding for
3-5 year olds
furniture and looked around an art After 18 months the relationship l High staff to child ratios with qualified and experienced teaching
gallery. Whatever the activity the is now ending as the programme staff and nursery nurses
overriding atmosphere has been one is principally for primary school l Nutritious 3 course meals, hydro pool, multi sensory room,
of laughter and fun and a growing children to help with their transfer school hall with gym apparatus, secure gardens, mini bus for trips out and about
bond of friendship. to ‘big school.’ And although they
Lucy was one of the first are very fond of each other they
volunteers to be trained as a both recognise it’s time to move on.
Memory Maker; the new arm to “I’ve introduced Michelle to lots
Swindon based youth mentoring of new experiences and I’ve helped
charity SMASH. Each Memory her learn to swim and improve her
Maker is matched with a child who reading,” recalls Lucy. “I’ll miss
has experienced a one-off traumatic seeing her on such a regular basis,
event like the death of a parent, but I feel we’ve almost gone full
or is living with stress because of circle and she has told me she has
an ongoing issue such as illness or lots of great memories of our time
disability within the family. together.”
Lucy has thoroughly enjoyed the Michelle has been making new Please call us at
time she’s spent with Michelle. She friends at secondary school since Windmill Hill to
originally volunteered because she September. Lucy would like to arrange a nursery
felt she could make a difference to a continue being a Memory Maker tour just for
child’s life but has been surprised at and after a short break wants to be you and we will
how much fun she has had spending matched with another child. look forward to
time with Michelle and doing all the Strangely, Lucy feels that in some welcoming you to
activities. ways her last outing with Michelle our Outstanding
Michelle, who is now 13, mirrored their first together: they Nursery
remembers vividly the first time went to Lydiard and played on
they went out together. “We went the climbing frames, chatted and
to Coate Water, walked around the giggled. When they looked at the
lake, had a picnic and then rode on pictures Lucy realised she was even
the miniature railway and saw the wearing the same outfit on the first
rabbits in the undergrowth – it was and last visit.
a great way to get to know each When they said goodbye Lucy
other and have a laugh”. asked Michelle what she needed to
“Lucy has been an amazing role remember - she said: “Be good. Be
model for Michelle,” says Clare good at school. Be good.”
Armagan, the Memory Makers If you would like to become a
programme manager. “She has a volunteer Memory Maker or support
great career, social life and travels the project by raising funds call
a lot, and yet she has always been Clare on 01793 729748.
there for Michelle.” www.smashyouthproject.co.uk
swindonlink.com n December 2015 19