Parent and child sessions fill gap

DOVETALES Christian Centre hosts two sessions of parent/grandparent and child-and-stay groups at its Westwood centre.

Bill and Janet Heap (both 59) established the group in July, 2001 after realising that there was a high demand that was not being met .

It started with a coffee morning, a box of toys, and a handful of children, but within weeks numbers grew to 20- 25 members.

Janet, who previously worked for Worlds Fair in Shaw Road, Oldham, explained: “I started the sessions after the birth of my first granddaughter, Beth Edmondson.

“We only had a few children but then as word of mouth went round it increased with more and more.”

The group is specifically for parents and grandparents, and is aimed at children aged from birth to 31/2.

Most of the toys were bought by the pair, but the bigger ones were purchased after the couple received a grant from Sure Start Oldham.

Two sessions are run each week on Mondays and Tuesdays (term-time only) from 9.30am-11.30am.

A mixture of people from all communities attend the sessions at the Westwood centre, which involve playing games, crafts, singing, dancing and cycling.