Family Support Project
Our Family Support Project is dedicated to working with families
who have small children: seeking to improve their quality of
life, and encouraging their development in body, mind and spirit.
Lis Dey is our Family Worker, having been appointed
to succeed Margaret Clark, who retired in July 2007. Her work
includes home visits, and developing support groups for young
families. She makes links with families who have approached
the Church about infant/child baptism, and she helps to nurture
their interest in the Christian faith. She has a shared
responsibility for the delivery of groups run by the Church, such
as Earlybirds, See and Know, Baby Sense, and Toddler Gym. If
you would like to know more about the work of the Family Project,
or would like a home visit, please phone her on 01274 652539
or 01274 682100. Heather Wilson is also a part time staff member, and a
lively team of volunteers ensure that the team is well resourced.
Baby Sense
Baby Sense is available at the following venues:
- St. Christophers at 10 am on Tuesday mornings
- and this session also includes a Toddler Gym for older pre-school
children.
- St. John's Church School in Dawson Lane, Bierley on Thursdays
from 2 pm to 3 pm
- The Upper Room on Tong Street on Thursday
afternoons from 2 pm onwards.
Baby Sense is a group for pre-toddlers (0 - 24 months) offering
three fun stages of early learning for children -
- Baby Massage (0 - 6 months) is where parents
learn to massage their own child, increasing the interaction
with their baby, as well as stimulating them.
- Treasure Basket (7 - 12 months) is simply a basket
full of natural objects for a child to explore in their own
time and in their own way.
- Heuristic Play (13 - 24 months) is a continuation
of the Treasure Basket, though here the child is encouraged
to combine various objects and thereby furthering their own
development.
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"See and Know" is a part of
our St. Christopher's Sunday Worship, and is an inspiring way
to teach babies and toddlers about basic Christian truths.
Using simple nursery rhyme style songs with visual aids, See
and Know bridges the gap from birth to pre-school years, gently
pointing the way to God.
Early Birds is a parent and toddler group which
meets at St. Christophers on Thursday mornings from 9.15 am
to 10.30 am during school term times. Earlybirds caters for
babies, pre-school children and their parents or carers, and
provides a stimulating enviroment for children to learn through
play. Carers have a chance to chat together and help their children
with play and craft activities and make new friends, in what
is a cheerful and friendly enviroment. New members are more
than welcome to just turn up for a session, and are always made
to feel welcome.
The 'P.P.' (Playing with Purpose) Project began
in September 2008, and is being developed by Betty Pedley who joined the
team to tackle this. Betty was previously Vicar of Luddenden in Halifax,
and before that, Diocesan Children's Officer to the Diocese of Wakefield.
The project will be seeking ways of enhancing the development of literacy
in small children in Holme Wood and district.
Thinking of Baptism? If you would like to
explore having your baby baptised at any of our three churches
please feel free to call the Curate (Alastair Kirk on 01274
685256) or the Vicar (Gordon Dey) on 01274 682100). Alternatively
come and join us for Sunday worship at any of our three churches,
and ask for more information.
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