A Telford volunteer-led project has been given a cash injection of thousands of pounds from a nearby GP surgery to help young families.
Woodside Family Groups Project has been awarded £12,600 by Woodside Medical Practice to boost its daily, open access, drop-in sessions for families with pre-school children.
The popular organisation, at Woodside Community Centre, has more than 200 adults and children registered with numbers still increasing. The funding will help develop work for future young families.
Julie Lloyd, project co-ordinator, said: “It’s really going to make a big difference for us. It will support our work very much.”
The project aims to increase awareness of young childrens’ needs, development and healthy lifestyle. It also helps increase access to community learning and training opportunities.
It runs daily groups for parents including advice workshops, a group for pregnant women and parents with children under 12 months and a youngsters’ exercise sessions with big equipment, music games and activities.
There are also summer holiday activities.
Surgery manager Glenis Shimmon said: “Woodside Medical Practice has opted to support this worthy cause by using funds from within its Practice Based Commissioning budget.
“By introducing efficiencies in the provision of specialist treatment at the health centre, rather than at the hospital, the practice has been able to consider other ways of tackling issues of health in the community. The Woodside Family Group provides a practical way of educating for long term good health.”
