Children’s Quarter welcomes four more member organisations to the co-op this summer: Norton Hall Children & Family Centre, The Springfield Project, Creative Active Lives and Football Funatics have all signed up.
Norton Hall Children & Family Centre is one of the most well-established groups supporting children, parents and families in Birmingham, having been working for more than 40 years in the east of the city from its base in Saltley. Norton Hall is an inclusive organisation with the aim of enabling a community where children and young people are able to fulfil their potential and where parents and guardians are able to support their families. As well as a community nursery for 65 children, the charity provides play, youth services, mentoring and support for children and young people; including activities for children with additional needs and after school and holiday care. The organisation is founded on a commitment to empowering women and supports a number of women’s social enterprises and provides training and employment and volunteering support. You can follow Norton Hall on Twitter @NortonHall_CFC
The Springfield Centre is another Birmingham charity with a long history. Based in Sparkhill and having its roots in St Christopher’s church on Springfield Road, the group started over 30 years ago as a stay and play scheme organised by local women. The Springfield Centre has bloomed to become a thriving Children’s Centre, Nursery and Community Project serving hundreds of local families in the Sparkhill area. The vision: that every child, every young person, every parent and every adult in the community should have the opportunity to reach their full potential. The Centre is also a Place of Welcome – part of the welcoming network (which originated in Birmingham and now extends across the UK) of churches, community centres, libraries, mosques, temples and other community group buildings which provide time and space for anyone to drop in for a cup of tea. You can follow The Springfield Centre on Twitter @Springfield_P.
Creative Active Lives is a Black Country-based Community Interest Company (CIC), which provides services around: developing life skills; motor skills; promoting relaxation and wellbeing; personal development; and encouraging social interaction, physical activity, and mental stimulation. Based on inclusion, person-centred work, reducing social isolation and making activities accessible and affordable for all, Creative Active Lives works with older people and with adults – through workplace wellbeing sessions – as well as with children and young people. In particular, the CIC organises Sensory Circus and after-school club activities in the Black Country and the wider West Midlands.
Football Funatics is a family run initiative based in South Birmingham with 13 years experience of providing fun football coaching sessions to boys and girls from 5 years upwards including children and young people with additional needs. Funatics coaches are FA- and playwork- qualified as well as DBS checked. The group provides one-to-one, small group and club/school team coaching and also provides fun football sessions at parties and events.
You can check out the CQ Member Map and join Children’s Quarter – the co-op for groups and people who are committed to social inclusion for ALL children and young people – as an individual supporter or a group member from £10/year.