St Helier Multi-Purpose Community Centre

Children First

A Multi-Purpose Community Centre that would provide integrated care and services for young children and their families, with a particular focus on children from disadvantaged backgrounds to improve outcomes for young children and their families and reduce inequalities between families in greatest need and their peers in child development and school readiness; parenting aspirations and parenting skills; and child and family health and life chances.

Giving clients the opportunity to be part of a caring, supportive, learning community.
Any family would be able to access the Community centre for free advice, support or to take part in activities as long as they have a child who is aged 0-5 years. The Community Centre would be open at least 5 days a week. To provide help and support to children and young families whenever they need it, as well as helping to prevent any problems from developing in the future.

The Community Centre could run programmes for parents such as parenting courses, antenatal support, and advice postnatal support, including breastfeeding, classes for babies and young children such as baby massage, baby yoga and play sessions, nutrition, nurturing, fathers’ groups and support from midwives and health visitors could be part of the services othered at the Community Centre.

Evidence is clear that what happens in pregnancy and early childhood has the greatest impact on children’s futures as it impacts on physical and mental health throughout adulthood. children’s early years experiences shape their development, educational attainment, and life chances. Children who receive high quality early childhood education and health services from conception onwards have a positive attitude to learning when they start school, are more resilient and have better learning, development, and health outcomes overall. They are more likely to complete secondary school and hold jobs. They are also less likely to rely on the welfare system and are significantly less likely to become involved in the judicial system.

A multi-agency community facility.

Community and voluntary sectors work together and in partnership with parents/carers to ensure children, young people and their families can access the right help, at the right time.

Working with other Groups/organizations like:

• Family Nursing and Home Care
• Education
• Jersey Child Care Trust
• Health and Social Services
• Children's Services
• The Multi Agency Safeguarding Hub or MASH
• Men Behaving Dadly
• My Dad and Me
• The NCT Jersey Branch
• Brighter Futures
• Community Midwives
• Jersey Childcare Trust