Reading Chronicle | News | Royal wives on the ball at children's centre

Friday, 25th July, 2008

Published: Thursday, 8th May, 2008 07:00

Royal wives on the ball at children's centre

By Rose Harland

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Martin Salter MP joins mayor Chris Maskell, centre manager Anne Cheeseman, Edwina Pateman of PACT and Cllrs Debbie Watson and Paul Gittings

Pic by: Chris Forsey

FOOTBALLERS’ families were among those celebrating the relaunch of a children’s centre on Friday.

The Reading players’ wives helped raise money for the refurbished and extended Coley Park Children’s Centre in Wensley Road, which will provide drop-in activities and support for parents and children up to five.

Coley Park mum Joanne Goddard, at the opening with son Korey, said: “It’s fantastic. I love coming down here.

“I’ve been coming since Korey was three-weeks-old. He’s 21-months now, so he’s grown up with it. He’s made new friends and so have I.

“Before the building was quite a bit run down, but they’re able to do more activities now.

“There are lots more security doors, which is great, and hopefully when the weather gets better we can enjoy being outside as well.”

The former Coley Park Family Centre shares a site with St Mary and All Saints primary school, and the improvements cost more than £320,000, funded by a grant from Sure Start, the Government initiative to improve support for children up to five.

Reading Borough Council has given the centre a £140,000 grant for the next financial year, and it is managed by the charity Parents and Children Together (PACT).

Last year, the Royal Families – Reading footballers’ wives charity fundraising group – donated £30,000 to PACT and the centre opening was attended by Karen Murty, wife of skipper Graeme Murty, and their daughter Freya; Amanda Hahnemann, who is married to goalkeeper Marcus, and Ivar Ingimarsson’s wife Hrefna.

Amanda said: “I think that it is just so exciting to actually see something of our efforts, and those of a lot of other people in the area, come to fruition.

“The aim of the Royal Families is to help out in the community and we hope a lot of families will benefit from the centre.”

The entrance has been extended, and there are new children’s toilets, an office, storage area, disabled access and a breast-feeding room. It has been recarpeted and redecorated, and there are plans for a shaded area in the garden.

Centre manager Anne Cheeseman said: “One of our main aims at PACT is to encourage parents and their relationship with their children, so they can enjoy their children. It’s not solving their problems for them, but giving them the means to solve them.

“I think the other aim is to be a central point to offer lots of facilities and services. We want parents to come and meet other people and find out what’s going on.”

“The plan is to offer a fuller range of services – such as a support group for local childminders, an adult fitness class with crèche and adult education such as short ICT courses – to families in conjunction with other agencies. For example, we intend to have links with Jobcentre Plus.”

Mrs Cheeseman moved to Reading last September from Kent with husband Nicholas, the vicar of All Saints in Downshire Square.

VISIT THE CHILDREN'S CENTRE:

FREE drop-in sessions are on Wednesdays 1-3pm and Thursday 9.15-11.15am. This month’s theme is food. Sessions for children and childminders 9.15-11am on Tuesdays.

Family support drop-ins with a family support worker (who also makes home visits), offering advice on issues including housing, benefits or personal difficulties, are at 1-3pm on Mondays.

There will also be a parenting course with a crèche and, from June, a breast-feeding support group.

Contact manager Anne Cheeseman on 0118 939 4859.