A PARENT and toddler group are set for a bright future after staff welcomed the first visitors to their new purpose-built centre.
Eden Church Parent Toddlers has been running for about 20 years but re-opened its doors to youngsters yesterday (Tuesday) after completing the move into the Grovewood Road site.
The group, which is open on Tuesdays and Fridays from 10.45am to 11.30am, left its previous Somers Road site in June and Audrey Higley, who ran it for 15 years, told The Observer the new building will offer ‘so much more’.
“The old Somers Road site was not big enough for our needs,” she said. “But we now have a much bigger building which can take more people.
“We couldn’t house that many people before so we are expanding and want to work in the community and draw as many people in and help as many people as we can.
“It has been hugely successful and I am both proud and pleased.”
The new building, which took about a year to construct and is open throughout term time, will house a café, a crèche, an auditorium for 250 people, a children’s room, a wide selection of toys and offices upstairs.
Audrey added: “We are there to support and encourage mums. It can be very exhausting bringing up a family and we want to come alongside the mums and for them to meet other people and know they are not on their own.
“Those of us running it are experienced mothers and grandmothers and are there to chat.
“It is also for the children to come along and have freedom to play and mix with others. Often they make friends and can go on to school with those friendships.”
Parents and youngsters can either turn up on the day or can email [email protected] or call 01684 565396 for more information.
