The Westminster Community Project underwent an excellent transformation when the Single Regeneration Budget funding came to an end, luckily for our project SureStart Sheerness stepped into the funding gap and opened up many new opportunities.

SureStart Sheerness is a Central Government initiative aimed at supporting parents and families of children aged 0 to 3 years and expectant parents. This support is through Family Support, Children’s Emotional and Social Development, Health Services and Early Learning and is a partnership of parents, service providers, statutory agencies and the voluntary sector.

Our new extension has just been completed and family support provision can now be extended to provide more parent and toddler groups, drop-in support for parents, basic skills/family literacy work, family play days and outreach work in the community.

The last year has seen many changes in the Centre and I would like to thank all the staff of Swale Council for Voluntary Service (CVS) for their help and support during that time.

The parent and toddler groups meet three times a week with one group specifically for grandparents with custody of their grandchildren by enabling them to meet others in the same situation in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere. Our drop-in pop-in support has grown considerably, helping those with little or no self-esteem by encouraging them to come in whenever they feel they need to.

Money given to us by the Local Network Children’s Fund was used to provide training and also holiday play schemes, we also put on a trip to Farming World. These have all been a huge success and helped the children to improve their behaviour and social skills and many parents have gained certificates. A course for parents to learn how to help improve reading and writing skills through play was held and there is a waiting list for the next one as it had proved so popular.

Summer play schemes run at Weenie Westminster by Sharon McNaboe (Sheppey Youth Action) and Lynn Logronio (Safe Schools), had children enjoying themselves by taking part in sport, art, craft, music, circus skills. Other activities included a Computer Bus and painting a Mural with Alison Baxter from Artscape. The mural is now on display in the office.

I look forward with anticipation and enthusiasm to the opportunities and expected growth of our new services in the coming year and to working with our new partners in Weenies.