Sure Start Children’s Centre

I was pleased to be able to attend the official opening of Havering’s First Children’s Centre in Collier Row this week. The new centre brings together a range of services to local families with young children.

Although I did not partake in the fun and activities with “Bob the Builder” or “Fifi forget me knot”, I did manage to say hello (see picture), I also missed the flower pot men that were at the event, along with a magician, however, they all managed to keep the kids amused whilst parents and carers were able to look round. The official opening was carried out by Havering Mayor, Cllr Wendy Brice – Thompson, who also took in a tour of the centre, helped by “Fifi forget me knot”.

I was shown round the centre by David Woodhull (Sure Start Children’s Centre Manager) and three very nice ladies, Sarah Tether (Havering Early Years Manager), Alyson Day (Under 5’s team) and Carole Jaques (Havering Inspection & Advisory Service). I don’t normally mention staff, but they twisted my arm, well two of them anyway. I think the new centre is a credit to all of the staff involved at Havering’s Children’s Services department and they deserve a mention.

The Centre is funded by Sure Start, through the Department of Education & Skills, and managed by Havering Council. The project cost over £500,000, through a grant from the DFES, and I must say as a Ward Councillor, I am very pleased that this facility has come to Collier Row. It is the first of a number of Centres that will be rolled out across the Borough over the next 12 months or so.

The new Children’s Centre at Collier Row comprises an extension to the existing Early Years Centre, providing space for a 34 place full day care provision, a hot desking area for the multi agency, multi disciplinary team (based on the Sure Start Local Programme model), two further rooms which will be used as training or health rooms, a buggy store and large reception area.

The aim of ‘Children’s Centres’ is that all services come together as one provision and that the Centre becomes a hub for the community. The Centre will offer a range of multi agency services for under 5’s and their families and provide early support and intervention particularly for the most disadvantage communities. The aim is to ensure that every child gets the best possible start in life.

If you would like any more information bout the centre, the best thing is to just drop in, it’s in Clockhouse Lane, just opposite the Community Centre in Collier Row.

New Residents in Collier Row

I had the pleasure of attending the official opening of 24 new homes in Bushey Close on the old Gobions School Site in Havering Road this week.

The houses were built by Family Mosaic, a Registered Social Landlord and total 14 x 3 bed houses and 10 x 4 bed houses. They form part of the 6 acre former school, the rest of the site has houses and flats for sale on the open market and total over 160 new properties in total

Cllr Mann said “I have been involved with the development on the Gobions site from the very beginning, meeting with residents, planning officers and the developers, Taylor Woodrow, it is nice as a Councillor to see something that is completed, from drawings on a piece of paper, to houses in the ground and people living in them”

Although over 40 houses now have people living in them, the rest of the area is still a building site and will not be completed in full until March next year, 2008, adding almost 300 new residents to Collier Row.

Cllr Mann went on, “I would like to welcome everyone living in Bushey Close to Collier Row, it’s a great area of the Borough and im sure they will all fit in with the surroundings just fine”

Martin and Alex off to Oz

Two of Havering’s former Councillors are set for a new life down under, after emigrating to Perth, Western Australia this week. Martin and Alexandra Smith were Councillors for Mawneys Ward in Collier Row for four years between 2002 and 2006.

They stood for Election with the Collier Row and Mawneys Residents Association this May, in one of the closest and hardest election battles North Romford has ever seen, they narrowly missed out on being re-elected after four recounts, a record at Havering.

Martin and Alex had planned to leave for Oz in 2010, but Martin was offered an early retirement opportunity and with being unsuccessful at this years election, took the chance three years earlier than planned.

Both Martin and Alex have worked tirelessly for the ward over the years, both of them have been School Governors, over the last eight years at some time at Crownfield, Mawneys and St Patricks Schools.

Martin and Alex were also heavily involved with the Havering Twinning Association, a relationship that they started whilst Martin was Deputy Mayor (2002 – 2003), a job he undertook after stepping into the breach at the last moment.

On recalling how he was asked to be Mayor, Martin said “I was traveling on the train on the way home on the night of annual Council in May 2002, when I received a phone call to ask if Alexandra and I would be the Deputy Mayor and Mayoress for the year, on repeating the question out loud on the train, the man sitting opposite me instantly stood up and shook my hand, shouting well done, this man is going to be the Deputy Mayor of Havering to everyone on the train”

He went on “Both Alexandra and myself would like to thank all of the residents that have supported us over the years, it has been a great privilege and honour to serve this Borough, we will both miss the friends and residents that have been part of our lives for so many years”

Chairman of the Collier Row and Mawneys Residents Association, Cllr Andrew Mann said, “Both Martin and Alex have worked for the community of Collier Row and Mawneys Ward for many years, not just whilst elected but both before and after, their commitment can not be faulted and will be greatly missed”

Members of the Collier Row and Mawneys Residents Association presented Martin and Alex with a signed photo of their time as Councillors.