Warwickshire News Mine

The centre in Warwick is a partnership project between Warwickshire County Council’s Early Years Team and children’s charity Action for Children. It is based at two sites at Newburgh and Westgate primary schools offering twice as much for young children and their families.

Both bases will officially open on Friday 24 October with fun packed informative events planned for each venue. 

Guests including local families, councillors, family services and staff from Warwickshire County Council and Action for Children have been invited to attend Westgate Centre on Bowling Green Street between 10am and 12pm before moving on take look around the Newburgh Centre between 12pm and 3pm.

The opening events offer a great opportunity for visitors to have a look around the facilities at the new centres and get a flavour of the type of services, information and support that will be on offer.  Healthy snacks will be available to all and fun activities are planned at each centre, including outdoor play and face painting.

Also running on the day, for one week only is a Fresh Food Co-op at Hill Close Gardens, supported by Westgate and Newburgh Children’s Centre. Families can order a big bag of fruit and vegetables for only £3.50 by contacting the Children’s Centre.

The centre joins a growing network of Warwickshire County Council’s children’s centres and is one of eight up and running in Warwick District.  The Action for Children centre will help families by linking with existing providers, who offer integrated care and education for pre-school children, health services, and family support – all under one roof.

The centre will offer a range of services including, drop-in sessions for parents, carers and children, antenatal and parenting support, information for parents and support for childminders.  The Children’s Centre will also offer advice about benefits and debt through CAB local, and links to employment opportunities with Jobcentre Plus.

Warwickshire County Councillor Izzi Seccombe, Portfolio Holder for Children, Young People and Families, said: “We are very excited about the opening of this split site Children’s Centre which is well equipped and ideally positioned to meet the needs of Warwick families.

"Action for Children staff at the centre, with support from the county council, have worked really hard to get everything ready for the opening and to ensure the centres will deliver high quality services with local children and their families in mind.”

Assistant Director for Action for Children, Caroline Leahy said: “We’re delighted to officially open these two new Children Centres here in Warwick.  The early years of a child, ages 0-5, are arguably the most important years in a child’s development so it is important that they receive the best possible care and that parents have the right tools to give them the support they need.

“We’ve been working closely with Westgate and Newburgh schools to open these centres which give children the opportunity to play, socialise and be stimulated so they can build skills and confidence. At the same time we want to work with parents and carers to help them support their child’s development.” 

Action for Children runs more than 66 children’s centres across the UK, including five in Warwickshire, working particularly with communities who are facing poverty, isolation and deprivation.

Link to WCC