Page 19 - link magazine

Family News

Family centre first birthday hope for the future The place for Swindon

Butterflies Family Centre at Abbey who need extra help, under an sewing bees
Meads Community Primary School agreement with Swindon Council to With the Great British Sewing
marked a successful first year by make support provision financially Bee giving sewers ideas or the
inviting user families and VIPs from independent over three years. inspiration to dust off the sewing
Swindon Council to a birthday party Cllr Foley, who has overseen the machine, local haberdashery Nimble
on 23 May. rationalisation of the borough’s Thimbles in Cheney Manor can
Present were the leader of the children centres in the face of satisfy just about every requirement.
council Cllr David Renard, who severe reduced funding, said: What started as an eBay shop in
represents Haydon Wick Ward, “I suggested to cabinet in 2013 2013 has grown into a fabulous
Cllr Fionula Foley, cabinet member that we develop the family retail outlet offering a wide
for children’s services, and council centre model. Tanya, Bob and range of dressmaking fabrics and
chief executive John Gilbert. Butterfly branded Cllr Foley with the Butterflies team are doing haberdashery, gorgeous quilting
Formed out of the Butterfly centre manager Tanya Parkinson, important work with families who fabrics from top designers, knitting
Children’s Centre, the family centre left, Bob Buckley head of Abbey need extra support and I’ll be yarn and patterns, dressmaking
has been refashioned to give more Meads Primary School and speaking out in favour of funding patterns, plus sewing machines
support to vulnerable families facepainter Nicola Walton the centre in the future.” from Elna and Janome.
Nimble Thimbles also offers
Weekly walk around the park classes in sewing, knitting, crochet
and craft for people of all abilities.
Expectant parents and/or anyone It’s an ideal place to learn a skill or
with a child in a pushchair are pick up new techniques. Proprietor,
invited to meet up in Lydiard Park Vikki Loeber-Hughes said: “You can
on Wednesdays, 10am. make some amazing things and
Run by volunteers from Swindon absolutely anyone can learn to sew,
NCT - though you don’t have to knit or crochet. It’s definitely having
be a member - the 30 minute a revival.”
walk is a chance to get some fresh “We talk about pretty much including during school holidays Find out about the shop and the
air in the company of others in a anything from sleeping tips to what when older siblings are welcome. programme of classes at www.
similar situation, ending with a was on TV last night. I’ve found it Some people even bring their dogs nimblethimbles.co.uk
get together in the cafe. Organiser a great way to meet new people for the exercise.” Nimble Thimbles is located at 27
Kathryn Hollingworth said: “We who are in a similar situation to me Just turn up at the Lydiard Park BSS House, Cheney Manor Ind. Est.
meet up whatever the weather, or who have been through it and visitor centre. See more information Swindon.
though if it’s really wet, we might survived. at Facebook: NCT Walk and Talk Contact 01793 950750 or
decide to chat and stay in the cafe. “The walks happen all year round Swindon [email protected]

LittLe Foxes ChiLdCare
July: The Digital Age?
& eduCation
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In an increasingly digital age, All our ePiP parenting coaches Open 8am to 6pm, 51 weeks of the year Now offering
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It‘s important to remember that, com www.imagination-childcareuk.co.uk
swindonlink.com n July 2016 19

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