Putting children first

1:24pm Tuesday 6th May 2008

A NEW purpose-built children's centre in Sidemoor is being showcased at a family fun day this Friday, May 9.

Barnardo's children's charity has organised the event at the Pear Tree Sure Start Children's Centre, in Broad Street, to give children, parents and carers the opportunity to be the first to view the facilities.

�Although our work has changed over the years our purpose remains the same � to give children the best start in life.�

Barnardo�s children�s services manager, Sara Castro

The centre, which houses the relocated Sidemoor Pre-School group, is the first of five children's centres across the county to be set up through a new partnership between Barnardo's and Worcestershire County Council.

The site will act as a one-stop-shop' offering a range of important services including parenting workshops, stay and play sessions, children's health clinics and individual family support.

Entertainment on the day, which runs from 1-4pm, will include a storyteller, stilt walker, fun and games, balloon modelling, face painting, smoothie making, arts and crafts and mud painting with the Borrowers toy library. The first 50 families to register receive free goodie bags. Barnardo's children's services manager, Sara Castro, said: "Our new centre provides the perfect example of what Barnardo's does today.

"Although our work has changed over the years our purpose remains the same - to give children the best start in life." Councillor Liz Eyre, Worcestershire County Council's cabinet member for children and young people, said she was delighted with the "enhanced partnership" between the council and Barnardo's.

"I am very enthusiastic about the potential added value from this development," she added.

For more information about the Pear Tree Children's Centre or family fun day, contact Sara on 01527 835775, or email sara.castro@barnardos.org.uk

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