Families in the south of the borough can now take advantage of a range of services on their doorsteps, now that Fortune Park Sure Start Children's Centre Islington South has moved some of its activities to Moreland Community House.<br><br>The new venue offers a stay and play base for children aged 0-5 and their families, as well as running courses for parents, offering advice and hosting other local community events.<br><br>Mr Neal Tann, a local parent said ‘I am happy about the move to the Moreland Community House. It will be great to have a new space. The activities Sure Start run are a great way for my children to meet new people. The facilities and the staff are great.’<br><br>Cllr James Kempton, executive member for children explained: "Supporting families and giving our children the best start in life is vital. By working with Sure Start the council is providing a place that people can meet and access services that will benefit parents and children."<br><br>On Friday 17 June The Mayor of Islington cut the ribbon to officially open the Moreland Community House, with an audience of local parents and children from birth to five, while the Moreland School choir sang a welcome song.<br><br>The Moreland Community House has been jointly funded by EC1 New Deal Park Sure Start Children’s Centre for Islington South, with Moreland School. It is an excellent example of family support services that are being developed through the Sure Start local programmers and the new Children’s Centre Strategy. Both of which aim to integrate a range of services for young children and their families and provide them from one place or as locally as possible.<br><br>Islington Council is the lead body for Sure Start and there are six Sure Start programmers: Copenhagen, Holloway, Mildmay and Canonbury East, Hilmarton and High view. <br><br>The council's Children's Information Service - 020 7527 5959 - is also on hand to help and advise parents and parents to be.<br><br>Ends<br><br>Notes to editors<br><br>1. Sure Start is a national government-funded programme aimed at helping parents-to-be, parents and children under the age of four in deprived areas. It provides extra resources for services identified as necessary to give young children the best possible start in life. The services developed depend on what local parents and parents-to-be want, and what gaps there are in services. All services must fall into five key areas. These are:<br>·support for parents and families <br>·outreach and home visiting <br>·play, learning and childcare <br>·health care <br>·support for children with special needs.<br><br>2. The targets and the types of services developed through Sure Start local programmes are being extended to the whole of Islington during the next six years through the Children’s Centre strategy. Through this strategy, every ward will eventually have a centre from which children under five and their families can access a broad range of services and support, including early education, health, family learning and support, information on childcare and Jobcentre Plus.
Page Last Updated: 17 December 2009