Flourish Homes’s Street-based sheltered housing scheme The Whithys has teamed up with a local children’s centre to share experience and facilities in a new Stay and Play scheme.
Brookside Children’s Centre this week opened a weekly drop in play group at the communal room on the sheltered housing scheme where parents and toddlers can now meet with centre staff. Residents who live on the scheme, which offers low level supported housing for older or disabled people, are also volunteering to help out at the sessions.
“We have a good communal room at The Whithys and we want to get more involved in local life in Street so when we were approached by the Children’s Centre asking for help to put on these outreach sessions we were delighted,” explained Flourish Homes’s Street Area Manager Lin Bisgrove.
“They wanted to offer regular drop in session to parents and young children on the Portland estate so our communal hall seemed like a good venue. We were also keen for our residents to get involved because many are parents and grandparents themselves so have plenty of experience to share that might help young mums and dads!”
Elaine Penton, who lives on the scheme and is a grandparent herself, said: “Some families don’t have grandparents living nearby so we might be able to offer some different ideas that might help parents and the Children’s Centre staff will also be there to give information and advice as well. I think it’s a great idea to open up our communal room for the community to use.”
The new drop in sessions will be held every Tuesday morning at The Whithys communal room from 10am to 12pm.
