At Shepherds Bush Families Project we have a large hall which gives us the facility to run a warm, friendly, and welcoming drop-in centre where families in housing need can come for play sessions and to make or meet friends for tea/coffee and a chat. We also have a wide variety of play equipment for children and young people of all ages to play and take part in a range of activities.
At Shepherds Bush Families Project we have a large hall which gives us the facility to run a warm, friendly, and welcoming drop-in centre where families in housing need can come for play sessions and to make or meet friends for tea/coffee and a chat. We also have a wide variety of play equipment for children and young people of all ages to play and take part in a range of activities.
OUR PARENT AND CHILD DROP-IN - THE HEART OF OUR PROJECT:
Monday: 9:30am - 11.30am
Wednesday: 9.30am - 11.30am
Thursday: 9.30-11.30am
Our Parent & Child Drop-in is informal, free of charge and families have no obligation to attend every day or even stay for whole sessions, although many do both. The drop-in is an opportunity for both parents and children to socialise in a safe stimulating environment where noise and messy play are not a problem and are actively encouraged. Parents are supported to understand the need for play and how babies, toddlers and young children learn through play. We ensure that children and their parents have the opportunity to join in many different activities and parents are able to spend stress free time with their children. One of the aims of our drop-in is to help parents and children prepare for school.
Our Drop-in also allows children the opportunity to get to know Early Years Practitioners and the environment with their parents close by, thus enabling them to join the crèche and pre-school with ease when they are ready, which further facilitates their move into formal education.
During school holidays our drop-in caters for children and young people birth – 13 yrs. All practitioners have experience of working across the age range which ensure we continue to offer a safe, stimulating environment.
AFTER SCHOOL CLUB
Tuesday 3.30pm- 5.30pm
Thursday 3.30-5.30pm
Our After School Club is for children and young people aged 5 –16yrs. Children & young people that attend sessions are able to receive homework support in all subjects and have access to materials and resources needed in order to complete class and school projects. Children & Young peoples also have an opportunity to try out different forms of art and take part in variety of games and activities.
The main aims of the After School Club are to:
• Give children and young people aged 5-16 yrs. a safe, stimulating and welcoming space to call their own
• Encourage children and young people to use their imagination and explore their own creativity
• Give children and young people an opportunity to explore their ideas and talk about issues that affect them
• Lower the risk of children and young people becoming victims or crime or getting involved in crime
• Give children and young people sharing a commonality of experience, i.e. inadequate housing, a place to socialise
• ABOVE ALL give children and young people a chance to have fun, in an environment where noise and mess are not a problem and where they have plenty of space to play, socialise and be themselves
HOLIDAY PROVISION
Various activities both on & off-site. The School Holiday provision enables C&YP to participate in activities, events & visit new places that may normally be denied to them.
ADVICE & ADVOCACY
Appointment only service
Our 1:1 advice and advocacy service offers individual families advice, assistance on a practical level and a range of assistance in other areas. This includes help with housing issues, benefit clams, acting as advocate on behalf of families and advice on getting back into work or into vocational, adult training. Where we are unable to help we are able to signpost and refer to other appropriate in house services or agencies
THERAPEUTIC COUNSELLING
Appointment only service Monday & Wednesday
Many of us welcome the opportunity to talk to someone about the problems & difficulties we experience. We have long recognised this and provide a very individualised, private and professional counselling and therapeutic service for parents.
For many parents the limits to the lengths and types of interventions available and pressures on mainstream services provision mean they are not always able to access the timely or adequate help. Our service offers a non-judgmental counselling service that is not limited by time constraints.
COFFEE MORNINGS
Tuesdays 10am - 12pm
Our coffee mornings offer parents a chance to socialise over some coffee and cake. It is a warm environment where new friendships are formed and parents have the chance to participate in cooking sessions, arts and crafts, be informed of new services in the area, or simply have a chat with others in the local community. Parents are welcome to bring their children along to the sessions with activities running throughout.
ENGLISH CONVERSATION GROUP
Thursdays 10.30am - 11.30am
The English conversation group was implemented to instill confidence in those for whom English may not be their first language. It is also an opportunity for parents to make new friends and meet others from a variety of backgrounds.
FAMILIES CENTRE MEETINGS
We hold Families Centre Meetings for all families registered at the centre.
This is an opportunity for parents/carers to get together, find out what is happening at the centre and to give feedback on services and discuss future activities.
This meeting is a service user forum where all users are able to have their voices heard