Official opening of wonderful resource centre for western Vale
- 17/11/06
A centre which is the focus for a wide range of services being
offered to children, young people and their families in the Western
area of the Vale of Glamorgan was officially opened on Friday, 10th
November.
The new £800,000 Western Vale Integrated Children's Centre has
been funded through a Big Lottery Fund grant of more than £470,000,
Welsh Assembly Government grant and Council resources.
The development of the centre, which has refurbished and
extended the Family Centre at Llantwit Major, and sits alongside
the St Illtyd's Primary School and Youth Centre complex, followed
wide consultation.
The event, which also included an open afternoon, was attended
by more than 300 people.
The centre has four core themes – early years education,
childcare, open access play, and training and community development
– each of which are underpinned by the Health and Wellbeing agenda.
The centre already hosts a wide range of activities from various
groups and organisations.
Activities offered either at the centre or through outreach
services are a Sunshine Group, Stay and Play, Parent and Toddler,
Childminders' Support Group, Credit Union, Pop In and Play (The
Gathering Place, St Athan), Clap, Tap and Rhyme, Fruit and Veg
Community Co-operative and Ti a Fi. A new Cylch Meithrin is also
being developed.
The centre also hosts a variety of training courses particularly
aimed at parents and carers, and these include language and play,
number and play, food hygiene, first aid, welfare and benefit
sessions, breastfeeding support, basic skills, ICT, confidence
building and Welsh tasters.
Vale Cabinet Member for Social and Care Services Cllr Gordon
Kemp, who performed the official opening, said: "The need to
develop children and family services in this area of the Vale had
been apparent for a number of years, and the Council is delighted
to have been able to deliver this first-class development.
"I would encourage everyone to participate in activities to
ensure local ownership of the project and create an environment
where people feel welcome and involved."
Congratulating everyone on the "excellent work" already
undertaken, BLF Head of Programmes John Rose said the award of more
than £470,000 "reflects the National Lottery's general principles
in making a long-term positive difference in communities."
He added: "The project will have wide-reaching benefits for
people in Llantwit Major and the surrounding area, and will provide
early years education, increased out of school childcare, open
access play, training and community development.
"The project will benefit hundreds of children and numerous
adults across the community.
"We always stress that there has to be community involvement,
with the community as a whole benefiting from the investment. This
is certainly true in this instance and there is a comprehensive
programme in place to ensure the local community has extensive use
of all these facilities, providing an opportunity for every member
of the local community to take advantage of this wonderful
resource."