A new Sure Start family support centre looks set to be established at Bradley Stoke’s Bowsland Green Primary School following a decision by South Gloucestershire Council (SGC).
Sure Start centres provide a range of services such as advice and information for parents on a whole range of issues, health visitor support, training for parents on issues such as parenting, breastfeeding etc., and play and stay provision for mother and toddler groups.
The Bradley Stoke centre is one of four recently approved by Councillor Sheila Cook (Conservative, Almondsbury), SGC Cabinet Member for Children & Young People, the others being in Severn Beach, Emersons Green and Yate.
Funding of £2.2 million for the new centres has been provided by the Government, which requires the new facilities to be available by March 2011.
Councillors considered both Bowsland Green and Wheatfield primary schools as potential sites before opting for the Ellicks Close location.
The new facility will be achieved through refurbishment of existing accommodation and the building of an extension.
Bradley Stoke Central and Stoke Lodge Councillor, Sarah Pomfret, said:
“At the moment, there is no children’s centre in Bradley Stoke, so local parents have to go to centres in Little Stoke, Filton and Patchway.”
“The Council’s announcement is hugely positive because there’s a lot of need for something like this in the town and there will be an even bigger increase in population as a result of the Northfield development at Patchway.”
“Establishing a children’s centre in Bradley Stoke will also allow the existing centres at the Stokes and Filton to offer services to the future community arising from the development planned at Harry Stoke.”
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