“In many ways it can be described as a lifeline as it can help you keep your sanity when you are at home with a baby. There is always someone available to talk to you: I had a time when I was feeling down, there were a lot of things going on in my life –and I had missed a couple of aqua-natal sessions. Then one day the Midwife rang up and said, ‘I’ve got half an hour free why don’t I come round for a coffee and a chat?’ “That really made me feel that I wasn’t just a number and that there was someone out there that actually cares – that is what is so special about the people who work at Marsh Farm, they care.” Sue works part-time and lives in Luton with her husband Bill and their two year old daughter Hannah. Marsh Farm Children’s Centre: what we have achieved so far… Forewords: Challenges and Achievements Forewords: Challenges and Achievements Foreword: Denise Poore, Manager Marsh Farm Children’s Centre services Food Advisor Main achievements of Marsh Farm Children’s Centre Parent Foreword: Sue Jeans The Food Advisor runs the popular Cook & Eat of Marsh Farm Children’s Centre Midwives courses, as well as providing advice on a varied and Centre Manager, Denise Poore, takes us through the Centre’s five major achievements. The Marsh Farm Children’s Centre Sure Start staff balanced diet and helping with groups and events. Welcome to our celebration team includes two Midwives, who provide services in Multi-disciplinary staff team: the support of partners at a strategic level, booklet. We would like addition to the service received from the Community Outings and events to introduce you to our and the hard work and dedication of staff at the Centre, has enabled effective Midwives. They run an antenatal group and aqua-natal In addition to the regular groups and training integrated working. It is never easy to bring together staff from very different Children’s Centre through class, provide support for ante-natal depression and the achievements of our sessions one-off events and outings are held backgrounds, however staff have been willing to adapt their working practices can do home visits. throughout the year. Recently, parents and staff children, carers and staff. and take on new ideas to the benefit of all our families. Health Visitors and Health Team organised a very successful event for Black History Moved in on August 2005 Month, and a Christmas fun day. Outings throughout Three Health Visitors are based at the Centre, providing the year have included trips to farms, activity centres A wide range of supportive partners: we have been fortunate to have I go to the Centre with my two year old daughter The Centre moved to its the core health visiting service for the estate. In addition and the seaside. current site in August 2005, supportive partners, at both strategic and local levels. This has enabled us to at least twice a week. to the Health Visitors, the Health Team includes two achieve a successful transition from a Sure Start Local Programme to Children’s and since then has gone from strength to strength. Nursery Nurses and a Health Care Assistant. They Every Child Matters The vision of Marsh Farm Sure Start Children’s Centre, with an integrated Management Board and operational Partnership Group. Important run activities such as the Parents and Tots Groups, Marsh Farm Sure Start Children’s Centre is working, Centre is: ‘Making life better for children, carers and Bookstart, and Musical Mini’s. They make home visits As a mother I know how important it is for the communities’. through a closely integrated multidisciplinary team, community to have a ‘one-stop shop’ such as Marsh to offer support and advice on child development, to deliver the outcomes for children outlined in the Good relationships with families: staff have established good relationships including advice on breastfeeding, weaning, safety and with many of our families. Indeed, a recent independent evaluation noted that Farm Children’s Centre because it enables families Helping children get the best start in life! government’s Every Child Matters programme. The five to receive a great deal of the support that they need behavioural issues, hold weekly clinics… and run a themes (developed in consultation with children) are: staff were ‘friendly, approachable and responsive’, were ‘good at listening’ and We aim to help children in Marsh Farm achieve weekly drop-in advice service at the Centre. under one roof. Staff at the Centre also provide a wide the best possible start in life through supporting • Being Healthy took a personal interest in families. range of courses for parents and carers which for their education, health and family activities. We are Community Development Workers • Staying Safe many people opens up a wealth of opportunities that, not only help them with raising their family, but can fortunate to have the support of our many partners Two Community Development Workers encourage • Enjoying & Achieving A unique position on the site of the Lea Manor High School: although the also help them back into work. to achieve this aim, and the valuable contributions of families to become involved in the Centre through • Making a Positive Contribution remit of the Children’s Centre is families with a child under five years of age, the parents and carers. • Achieving Economic Wellbeing. Family Voices, a Parents Forum and through the unique position of the Centre has enabled joint working and innovative projects Support emerging volunteer programme. They also organise Thank you with the High School – to the benefit of both! Based over two sites training; in partnership with other organisations the It is a place where people can get support for their The Marsh Farm Sure Start Children’s Centre is Centre provides accredited childcare training, in Finally, I would like to take this opportunity to thank all children, where they can make friends and seek advice based over two sites: service training for Children’s Centre staff, health, staff, parents and carers for their hard work, dedication Purpose built facilities: the excellent facilities, and the flexibility of the two when they need to. hygiene and safety courses and parenting courses. and commitment to the objective of delivering high sites, has enabled the development of an extensive programme of high quality • Lea Manor site at Redgrave Gardens: home to quality services to our families. And thank you to the What I like most about the Centre Butterflies Nursery, run by the Pre-School Learning activities. The Centre was developed with joint funding from Luton Borough Drug & Alcohol Outreach Worker families who have used our services, expressed their What I like most about the Centre is the fact that Alliance, and the Sure Start team. Council and Marsh Farm Development Trust, (a New Deal for Communities appreciation, and allowed us to be part of their lives! it provides a friendly, supportive environment – The Drug & Alcohol Outreach Worker can offer programme). The Marsh Farm Development Trust has also supported activities • Leabank site: incorporates Gill Blowers Nursery support to families who have problems with addiction something we all need at sometime in our lives. School, Sessional Care for two to three year or problematic drug or alcohol use. This includes the and services at the Centre. olds, and a community activity space. A holiday offer of Auricular Acupuncture to help with 2 playscheme also runs from the Leabank site. stress and withdrawal symptoms. 3 Being Healthy Being Healthy During 2005-2007, Marsh Farm How Jemma, a mother WHEN JESSICA waS FIVE MONTHS NOW JEMMA waNTS TO Children’s Centre developed a OLD, JEMMA WENT ON A BABY HELP OTHER MUMS. of two young children, MASSAGE COURSE. “After my illness I really felt that there should be some range of integrated services that “After we’d finished the course everyone – including me form of counselling at the Centre so I went to the – felt quite deflated. But then I was asked if I wanted parents’ group and voiced my opinion. As a result deliver to the ‘Every Child Matters’ started living her life again to learn how to teach baby massage. I’d really enjoyed Pauline and Denise agreed to run a SHE (Secured, doing the course and it had been so good for Jessica Healed and Empowered) group where mothers could Theme of Being Healthy, including after overcoming serious and myself so I didn’t hesitate. Now I teach baby really explore their feelings. After I’d attended the group, massage at the Centre with three other mums. I wouldn’t I was given the opportunity to take a short course in the following… have had the chance to go on such a course and then counselling. I know it’ll help me when I go on to work illness and depression actually teach if it hadn’t been for Sure Start.” with other mums doing my baby massage – that’s what I Bump2Babe: expectant parents six weeks course. really want to do.” 23 year old Jemma lives in Luton with her JEMMA FOUND IT DIFFICULT Family Swimming: subsidised swimming sessions, two children, five year old Harry and two FOR JEMMA, SURE START HAS with free places for dad’s! BECOMING A FIRST-TIME MUM. year old Jessica. MADE A REAL DIFFERENCE TO Aqua Fitness: fun in the water…for parents, “When Jessica was 12 weeks old I was diagnosed with “When I gave birth to Harry five years ago I lost a bit of HER LIFE. non swimmers and pregnant mums.