Bishop’s Communities Fund Steps In To Help Re-start Tongham Children’s And Family Support Group

Published on: 10 Mar, 2020
Updated on: 10 Mar, 2020

The Bishop of Guildford’s Communities Fund has stepped in with a grant of £1,500 to help St Paul’s Church, Tongham to start a new children’s centre and family support group in the village.

The original children’s centre in Tongham was one of 31 to be axed by the local authority last year.

The initial phase is a new group, Baby Plus, running two baby-focused sessions during the morning, including a variety of sensory experiences.

Tea, fresh filter coffee and homemade cakes are available throughout the morning.

The free sessions provide a space for parents and their babies where they can find someone to chat to and learn new skills to take home.

Baby Plus in action.

Signposting is also provided to further support for counselling, advice and particular issues such as disability and access. There is toddler support to enable second-time parents to attend with a new baby.

The project has already expanded to include drop-in sessions to chat about a range e. of subjects in rotation including sleep, changing relationships and introducing new foods.

The Revd Claire Holt, vicar of St Paul’s Tongham, said: “We are very grateful to the Bishop of Guildford’s Communities Fund for this grant. The fund has enabled Baby Plus to be set up locally, rather than trying to access the nearest local authority funded support in Guildford.

“It has already proven to be effective in reducing isolation and providing much-needed support for the local community.”

The Bishop of Guildford, the art Revd Andrew Watson, said: “The Fund exists to help churches reach out to the disadvantaged and vulnerable in their community, so I’m very pleased that Claire and her team have taken the initiative to start this family support group, which is already proving to be a great benefit to local mothers and children.”

To find out more about the Bishop of Guildford’s Communities Fund go to www.bgcf.org.uk . To donate, click on ‘Donate to the Foundation’ and use the link DONATE.

Responses to Bishop’s Communities Fund Steps In To Help Re-start Tongham Children’s And Family Support Group

Fiona White Reply

March 11, 2020 at 7:56 am

I am very pleased to see this. The decision to cut funding for children’s centres was very short-sighted.

Children’s early years are so important and it is essential that they and their families get all the help they need.

Even the most organised new parent is going to need back-up sometimes. Making sure that help is available is an investment in our future.