Stanley

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Sure Start Stanley Dads Group

What a great year 2005 has been for Sure Start Stanley dads and kids!!

• Your very own Fathers Worker, Nichola Smith, came into post in June.

• Trips to Newcastle Tall Ships, Discovery Museum and South Shields during July and August.

• Beamish Museum early October for Celebration Fatherhood Past, Present and Future!

• The spookiest pumpkin carving and Halloween party, late October!

And throughout the whole year ... we have had a fabulous time at the Dads and Kids 4 T Session Thursday 4pm-6pm!

Here are some comments from our dads:

"Me and my children love coming up to the group on a Thursday, lots of fun activities for us to do together"

"The dads and kids sessions/trips/activities allow me to spend quality time with the kids, something we very rarely get"

"As well as improving my relationship with my child, I have also make lots of new friends by coming along to the group"

"We love coming up to Sure Start Stanley on a Thursday, something we both look forward to throughout the week!!"

All of our dads and kids have had a fantastic year and we are sure that 2006 will be even better!  If you haven't already been involved there's no better time to do so.

Have a happy Christmas dads and we look forward to seeing you in the new year!

For further information contact Nichola, Fathers Group Worker, at the Sure Start Stanley Centre on 01207 232048.

Sure Start Stanley’s Parent and Community Group
by Karen Hughes, relief Parent Greeter and Sure Start Stanley regular
 

I first started attending Parent and Community Group meetings in July this year after being approached by a couple of members on the Grand Opening Day of the new Centre.  I’d been coming to Sure Start Stanley since January with my daughter, Sky, who was then 13 months old.  I felt the benefits of Sure Start Stanley right away.  It was great to chat with other parents, and also feel part of something fun and interesting.  I was asked to help out on the Opening Day, which is where I found out about the Parent and Community Group.

The Parent and Community Group meets monthly to discuss not only what goes on within Sure Start Stanley itself, but other matters concerning parents, families and young people in Stanley.

I was interested to see what went on, but also quite nervous to attend a meeting on subjects I thought I barely knew about.  I went ahead, leaving my daughter in the crèche provided, and sat in on the meeting (I say ‘sat in’ because really that’s all I did – I don’t think I said a word, just nodded along when it seemed polite).  It turned out to be really interesting and to my relief, not too formal.  Everyone had something to say, and their opinions listened to, respected and, most importantly, taken into account.

Since then I’ve attended every month, and even got involved a few times.  I don’t feel self conscious about saying what I think, because the group take everyone’s ideas seriously.  As a parent in Stanley, I’m the sort of person affected by the decisions being made, so why not have my say?  After all, if I think things aren’t quite right, I might lose out.

I helped in arranging this year’s Halloween Party, which went really well, all the children (and some of the grown ups) had a lot of fun.  The arrangements for the Christmas Party are about to begin, which I hope will be just as successful.

It seems to me that everyone using the Centre has an opinion about something, the state of Stanley Front Street, the courses on offer at Sure Start Stanley, even the size of the mugs in the kitchen! And most people are keen to tell someone what they think.  So, why not get involved in the Parent & Community Group?  Come along to a meeting or pass on your ideas or thoughts to a Parent Greeter, most of who attend regularly.

 It’s not as daunting as you may think, and you might find yourself involved in something really interesting!

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