Families in the Longtown and Bewcastle areas will find it easier to get hold of information about children's services, getting a job, and training opportunities when a parent information kiosk opens for business this week.
Based at Longtown and Bewcastle Children's Centre, the kiosk will enable families to browse useful websites and pages such as 'Early Years and Childcare', 'Education, Employment and Money', 'Keeping Healthy' and 'Staying Safe'.
From the kiosk parents can also make calls direct to the county council's Children's Information Service, Jobseeker Direct, Connexions, Parentline Plus and Cumbria Fire and Rescue Service to organise a free home safety check.
The kiosk is brightly coloured to make it clearly visible and it is based in an area of the children's centre that parents and families can easily get access to.
The Longtown and Bewcastle kiosk is one of four pilots being set up in children's centres around the county. They will complement the current work taking place at the centres, and provide information for people in an alternative way. The others are at Bram Longstaffe Nursery School in Barrow, The Lakes Children's Centre in Ambleside, and the NCH Workington Children's Centre.
On Thursday 25 October, families can drop in to Longtown and Bewcastle Children's Centre to try out the new kiosk, and for a free competition for children, giveaways - plus a chance to meet Harold the Hedgehog!
Councillor Jim Buchanan is Cumbria County Council's cabinet member for Children's Wellbeing. He said:
"Children's centres will become the very bedrock of our services to the county's young people and their families in years to come. With 16 open already the aim is to have one in every community by 2010.
"We are committed to providing, through the children's centres, the right services, in the right place, at the right time. These information kiosks we are currently piloting will add to that commitment."
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Further information from Alison Lister, Media Officer on 01228-606335