Warwickshire News Mine

Families from the area will be joined by Cllr Izzi Seccombe, Portfolio Holder for Children, Young People and Families at Warwickshire County Council, as they release 50 biodegradable balloons to celebrate the official opening.

The new Southam and District Children’s Centre, on St James Road, is based within the Graham Adams Community Centre. The children’s centre, which has been developed in partnership with Warwickshire County Council and the Graham Adams Centre, is offering a wide range of activities and extra services to parents, carers and their young children.

Cllr Izzi Seccombe said: “Children’s early years are most important in terms of their overall development, wellbeing and future economic success and the local community and families will benefit greatly from the opportunities and facilities on offer.”

Carol Pratt, Children’s Centre Manager, said: “Every child matters and the children’s centre is here to ensure that in Southam and the surrounding villages every child under 5 and their family or carer has the opportunity to be healthy, stay safe, enjoy and achieve, make a positive contribution and achieve economic well being.” 

The Children’s Centre is already offering ‘Stay and Play’ drop-in sessions for parents, carers and children on Wednesday mornings; a mother and baby group on Monday lunchtimes and a toddler group on Wednesday afternoons. The Family Information Service will be making regular visits and other groups which will be starting soon include a breastfeeding support group and Parentcraft classes. 

There will also be a wide range of services for parents and carers including antenatal support, adult learning, and information and advice about childcare and benefits with links to employment opportunities through Jobcentre Plus.
Childminders will also find the centre a helpful resource where they can meet other providers and benefit from training opportunities.

The centre will be holding a family fun day from 2-5pm on Sunday 25 May for all to enjoy completely free of charge.  The event, which takes place the day before Southam Carnival, will feature face-painting, crafts, a raffle, a bouncy castle, refreshments, free goodie bags and a performance from a local belly-dancing group.

Those who go to the fun day will also get a chance to meet staff from the children’s centre and have the opportunity to talk about the sorts of services they would like to see on offer, not only from the Graham Adams centre in Southam but in the surrounding areas of Stockton, Harbury, Napton and Long Itchington. 
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For more information please contact either Carol Pratt, Children’s Centre Manager on 01926 814 953 or Rebecca Davidson in the Warwickshire County Council press office on 01926 414142.

Notes to editors

Staff include children’s centre manager Carol Pratt, early years worker Tracy Tidmas and administrator/receptionist Karen Shipley who can advise about the services on offer.  There will also be family support worker joining the centre in September who will be able to offer advice and support to parents in their own homes.
The children’s centre has worked in partnership with Warwickshire County Council and the Graham Adams Centre Management Committee who provide the governance for the centre chaired by Rev. Wayne Hawkins. The centre is the result of the government’s Sure Start initiative to develop children’s centres in every locality.

The Graham Adams Centre is a local community centre. It was formerly the first school in Southam and was purchased by the Congregational Federation in 1997 and leased to a new charity formed by Southam Congregational Church. It is managed by a board which includes representatives from the local community as well as representatives of the Congregational Church. 

The centre is named after Graham Adams, a former congregational minister in Southam who was a driving force behind the purchase of the school.

Link to WCC