A popular children’s play group, which had to close down after it lost its funding, is back up and running, thanks to grant from Sutton Coldfield Charitable Trust (SCCT)
A donation of £38,928 from SCCT has enabled the much-loved community volunteer network to reinstate a stay and play group for young children.
Home-Start Birmingham North West originally established its weekly play group before the Covid-19 pandemic. It reopened in 2022 after lockdown, but due to loss of staff and funding, was forced to close again.
Now, thanks to a grant of £38,928 from SCCT, the Play and Learn group is open again, running weekly free sessions at Sutton’s United Reform Church in the town centre – each Thursday from 9.30am until 11am during school term time.
Scheme Manager Donna Prescott said: “The grant from SCCT was really important. It’s made a massive difference – it’s meant that we can reintroduce this group, and even look to expand beyond it. We’re looking to get another group running, possibly near Falcon Lodge or Walmley.”
Home-Start is a local community network of trained volunteers, helping families with young children through their challenging times.
The volunteer-led group works on a referral system, which allows suitable volunteers to be allocated to families, to provide valuable and friendly individual-oriented support.
Donna explained: “We get referrals from health visitors, children’s centres, schools, GPs, social workers, and from the families themselves who can self-refer to us.
“We have allocation meetings where professionals discuss the referrals to decide which of our volunteers can best support each family.”
Home-Start’s play groups and events give families an opportunity to socialise in a welcoming environment for free.
Donna said that there is an increased need for low-cost children’s activities in the current economic climate, which Home-Start’s initiatives aim to fulfil.
“What’s really beneficial about the play group is that it’s free,” she said. “Children can come along and play, we provide activities and snacks, and it’s at no cost to the family.’”
Alongside providing cost-free family fun, the play group provides fundamental developmental experiences for children, many of whom have seen their young lives disrupted by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Donna said: “We’re finding that since Covid, people have been really isolated, so it’s important to give them the opportunity to come out and socialise in a group with other families.
“Children that were born during the pandemic haven’t had those opportunities, and it’s had an effect on their development. For example, we’re finding there’s a significant rise in the number of children with speech and language issues.’
“Having a group where these children can socialise with peers before they go to nursery or school is really beneficial to them and their families.
“It’s that socialisation which is key, not just for the children, but the parents too.”
SCCT CEO Tina Swani said: “One of the Trusts’ key aims is to support the advancement of education, and that starts long before children reach school – how they get to interact with other children in their early years is vital to their development.
“We are delighted to provide support to Home-Start, whose weekly play session not only benefits the children but also the families too, by providing a place where they can meet other parents.”
