23/6/2006 - Photocall: First rural children's centre opens for business

Cumbria's first rural children's centre will officially open in the village of Kirkby Thore in the Eden Valley next week (Tuesday 27 June).

Based in new purpose built premises attached to the village primary school, the Sure Start Children's Centre will bring together all the services for children and families in the area.  The opening of the centre has come about through successful joint working between the local community, the village primary school, health services, Cumbria County Council, Jobcentre Plus and private and voluntary organisations.

The main priorities at the children's centre will be antenatal and postnatal care, special needs support and parenting advice.  The children's centre will also link services for under fives and their families with those for older children.

Some of the innovative ways the services are being provided include: 

- 'Story sacks for health' - an interactive way of raising awareness of various health topics for families and their children, provided by the local health visitor and the council's adult education and library services.

- a lunch club for parents of pre-school children which runs every day during term time.  While the children are at the lunch club parents can access information about employment, training, and other local activities.

A major aim of children's centres is to make it easier for children and families to get hold of the services they need.  One way this is being achieved at Kirkby Thore is by providing home visits and activities in community buildings that are easy for families to get to.

Councillor Philip Chappelhow is Cumbria County Council's Cabinet member for Children's Services.  He said: 

"Families are at the heart of every community and it is vital that support is available to both children and families to ensure our young people get the best possible start in terms of their health, education and social wellbeing.

"What is also vital is that children and families get the services they need, when they need them, and where they can easily get hold of them.  This new children's centre will provide exactly that for families in and around Kirkby Thore."

Sophie Brooks is Cumbria Sure Start's Children's Centre Development Worker.  She said: 

"This is just the beginning for Kirkby Thore Sure Start Children's Centre and we are planning to expand into the surrounding area over the coming years.  That expansion will look at different ways of delivering services in very rural areas, such as using mobile facilities.  We might also look at the possibility of making use of the internet and videophones to provide advice and support for families."  

The Kirkby Thore Sure Start Children's Centre brings to 16 the number of children's centres throughout Cumbria. 

To tie in with the official opening of the children's centre next Tuesday, Kirkby Thore primary school is holding an open day.

You are invited to send a photographer to the Kirkby Thore Children's Centre on Tuesday 27 June at 2.45pm 

At the opening will be: 
local residents 
Councillor Philip Chappelhow, Cabinet Member for Children's Services at Cumbria County Council 
Councillor Gary Strong, Cumbria County councillor for Penrith Rural 
Moira Swann, Director of Children's Services, Cumbria County Council 
Glenis Wood, health visitor, Eden Primary Care Trust 
Christine Wilson, headteacher at Kirkby Thore Primary School 

Notes for Editors 

Cumbria Sure Start delivers the national Sure Start agenda for the children, parents and communities of Cumbria.  Sure Start supports children and families from pregnancy through to age 19 by:

- increasing the availability of childcare for all children 
- improving the health and emotional development of young children 
- supporting parents to achieve their employment aspirations