Local charity, Every Child Our Future (ECOF), has released their second impact report on Bright Beginnings, which reflects on progress made against the aims and objectives set out by the charity.
Bright Beginnings welcomed approximately 130 families to the Children’s Centre each week during a 12-month period during 2020 – 2021, an increase in 45% since 2019. Thanks to the hard work of the team services went online during both lockdowns as the charity saw and increase in demand for services.
Jane Le Conte, who sits on the Board of ECOF said, “The pandemic has impacted all our lives and one effect has been to increase the demand for our work, particularly in the field of perinatal parental mental health and we’ve expanded our services as a result. We are incredibly proud of, and thankful to all the staff and our amazing volunteers who put their hearts, time and energy into ensuring families continued to receive the support they need. The impact report reflects the dedication of the team and the importance of Bright Beginnings’ work to families.”
Bright Beginnings Children’s Centre and Nursery opened in 2017 and offers free services in the Children’s Centre and a combination of private paying and children who benefit from a grant from ESS (to allow them to attend free of charge) in the nursery, all of which are informed by the 1001 Critical Days Agenda ethos – for all children to receive sensitive, appropriate and responsive care from their main caregivers in the first years of life.
ECOF has worked at the forefront of the agenda in the island since it was announced nationally in the UK parliament. The vision for Guernsey’s first children’s centre, Bright Beginnings, was born from the realisation that families needed a place to “be”, free from stigma, where they are able to seek support and friendship and where a range of activities are available to support them in ensuring their child has the best possible start.
Bright Beginnings Board reviewed their strategy at the end of 2020 and as a result have a revised business plan for 2021-3. The concept of proportionate universalism is embraced within the strategy – this is an approach to reducing health inequalities with a balance of universal and targeted services, whereby those services are delivered in proportion to the level of need.
“Our work is increasingly recognised and we have received, and are grateful for, grants and donations, and we have attracted the interest of the States of Guernsey, which, we hope, will enable us to develop more key partnerships and secure funding in the future. In addition, in order to manage our fund raising more widely we have set up Friends of Bright Beginnings.
“Our objectives when launching Bright Beginnings were to work together with families to support the development of a secure and loving relationship between parent and child. It is great to see once again the outcomes positively reflect what we have all been working towards. The impact report provides validation that we are moving in the right direction and has been a fantastic way to highlight and celebrate the achievements of all the staff and volunteers involved in running the Centre and Nursery,” said Jane.
The Impact Report 2021 can be read here.
If you are interested in becoming a volunteer for Bright Beginnings, the Centre would love to hear from you. For more information please contact Rachel Copeland on 07781 429515.
