Views sought on way forward for centre

By [tknight]

VIEWS are being sought on what families in Sherborne would like to see in a new children's centre scheduled to open in the early summer.

Charity Barnardo's South West, which already operates centres in Broadmayne and the Piddle Valley, is working with Dorset County Council on the shape of the new service, which will be based at Sherborne Youth Centre in Tinneys Lane.

A community consultation, for families in the catchment areas of Sherborne, Bradford Abbas, Cam Vale, Halstock and Queen Thorne, is being held at the youth centre on Friday next week from 10.30am to noon. People will be able to examine plans and talk to the new centre's staff. It is envisaged that the centre will include a reception, playroom, meeting room and garden.

The project will be managed on behalf of Dorset County Council and funded through the government's Sure Start scheme to provide free support to parents with children under the age of five years.

Services will include parenting programmes, healthy eating and links to training and employment. It is hoped to be up and running by May or June.

Barnardo's team leader Julia Lake said: "We've already helped hundreds of Dorset families to turn their lives around thanks to the provision of free support across so many different areas. Now we want to do the same in Sherborne as well. Previous questionnaires have generated around a hundred responses which have guided the development of this new service, but we've progressed to the stage where we can start holding bigger events for even more people to share their views.

"At the moment we're hoping to offer advice on childcare, healthcare, training, employment and benefits, as well as access to play sessions, baby massage and other courses."

For further information, call 01305 852843 or email middorset@barnardos.org.uk