Opening of the Family Center Llantwit Major

I was deligted to attend the opening of the Western Vale Integrated Children's Centre which is the focus for a wide range of services being offered to children, young people and their families in the Western area of the Vale of Glamorgan was officially opened on Friday, 10th November.The new £800,000 Western Vale Integrated Children's Centre has been funded through a Big Lottery Fund grant of more than £470,000, Welsh Assembly Government grant and Council resources.The development of the centre, which has refurbished and extended the Family Centre at Llantwit Major, and sits alongside the St Illtyd's Primary School and Youth Centre complex, followed wide consultation.The event, which also included an open afternoon, was attended by more than 300 people.The centre has four core themes – early years education, childcare, open access play, and training and community development – each of which are underpinned by the Health and Wellbeing agenda. The centre already hosts a wide range of activities from various groups and organisations.Activities offered either at the centre or through outreach services are a Sunshine Group, Stay and Play, Parent and Toddler, Childminders' Support Group, Credit Union, Pop In and Play (The Gathering Place, St Athan), Clap, Tap and Rhyme, Fruit and Veg Community Co-operative and Ti a Fi, and a new Cylch Meithrin is also being developed.The centre also hosts a variety of training courses particularly aimed at parents and carers, and these include language and play, number and play, food hygiene, first aid, welfare and benefit sessions, breastfeeding support, basic skills, ICT, confidence building and Welsh tasters.