New facilities for families in Ross-on-Wye

Children and families in Ross-on-Wye are to enjoy new services at the Ryefield Centre, Grammar School Close, Ross-on-Wye, following the opening of a new Children's Centre by Herefordshire Council.

Children's Centres provide services and information for families with children under five years of age which include child and family health services, antenatal and post natal services, family support such as home visiting and group activities and support for children and parents with special needs.

Each children's centre tailors its services to local need. Some have links with Jobcentre Plus to help parents and carers retrain and/or return to work, good quality early learning through play activities and a creche facility may be available dependant on demand to support meetings and training. The centres also provides a base for childminder support teams.

Carole Harris, Ryefield Children's Centre Manager, is currently working with organisations in and around Ross-on-Wye to assess local needs,see what services are already in place and build on services that are needed locally.

"We have formed a service delivery group which consists of local agencies and parents so that we can get to the heart of the local community and make sure that what we provide is what people need," said Carole. " We know there are already a number of services being provided and we don't want to duplicate these. We want to make sure all local families have access to a wide range of support and activities and it makes sense to do this from one central point," she continued.

To celebrate the opening of the Ryefield Children's centre and talk to families about the services they will be able to access, the council is planning an open day on 12th December from 10am-2.30pm. Local families and their young children will be invited to a family fun day at which cabinet member for children and young people, Councillor Jenny Hyde will formally open the centre.