We are now offering an increasing number of activities for parents, and if you have any other ideas please let us know by telephoning the Parent/Carer Involvement Team on 020 7641 5409.

Adult Education Courses
Westminster Adult Education Service (WAES) run over 100 sessions in Church Street for adults, every week (term-time). Many of these courses are supported by a crèche facility for your child (6 months – 4 years). Some of the sessions are listed in this leaflet but please see the 'Adult Training in the Church St Area' booklet for full details of classes and times.

NVQ Administration level 2
This successful project delivered by WAES has allowed local parents to begin a course whilst in a work placement, arranged through Westminster Primary Care Trust. After a short period, paid work is available and once qualified parents can apply for permanent work there or within any other organisation using this valuable qualification. Help with childcare costs until paid work starts is available through JobcentrePlus together with advice on tax credits and childcare credits through the Lone Parent Advisor {Open to Lone Parents as part of JobcentrePlus funding}.

NVQ Health & Social Care level 2
The next partnership project aims to assist parents into work with Social Community Services and Westminster Primary Care Trust to work as Care Assistants or Nursing Home Carers. Work placements are found for you and within a short period, paid work will be offered until completion of your course work, where parents can apply for permanent posts using their qualification upon completion {Open to Fathers, Mothers, Grandparents and carers of children under 5 years, living within the Church Street Ward}. Help with childcare costs until paid work starts is available through JobcentrePlus together with advice on tax credits and childcare credits through the Lone Parent Advisor {Open to Lone Parents as part of JobcentrePlus New Deal for Lone Parents funding}.

NVQ Early Years Education level 2 
This course is delivered as a straightforward class, with work placements found locally within the Sure Start Children's Centre activities of the Central Westminster Cluster. This course will be a pilot project this year and if successful will offer career progression for Childminders & carers or those who would like to begin in childcare and gain a recognised qualification.

Please check with  Ruth Murray on 020 7479 8781 that these classes are taking place.

Communicating with Confidence Training
This course is for you if you want to:

·        Improve your overall communication skills
·        Become more assertive
·        Ask for what you want
·        Getting to say YES and NO
·        Making effective complaints
·        Improve your listening skills
·        Explore problem-solving tools
·        Learn how to deal with work situations
·        Practice interview techniques

Crèche available – limited spaces.

For more information call Tanya/Naima on 020 7641 5409.

English as an Additional Language (ESOL)
ESOL classes are held at various times and venues during the week. There are classes for all levels including beginners and conversational English. These sessions are aimed at people who have English as a second language. 

For more information about these and other courses, please see booklet (as above) or telephone Hana Mortimore, the Community Co-ordinator, on 020 7641 8102

Sewing with ESOL
These classes give women the opportunity to learn a new skill, be creative in a relaxed and socially integrated group and make clothes for themselves and their families.  

Contact the Outreach Team on 020 7641 5409 for details.

Employment Drop-in
These Partnership sessions are held by Sure Start, Westminster Adult Education Service, JobcentrePlus, Westminster Children’s Information Service & Paddington First, with Advisors on hand to offer advice and support for clients seeking work, information about training and up-to-date current vacancies in the area is available and the sessions are open to anyone living in the local area. 

Welfare Benefits and Housing Session
New sessions will be starting soon. Please contact Fatima on 020 7641 5409 for further information.

Support to give up Smoking
One-to-one sessions to help you stop smoking are held throughout the year at various venues in Westminster. A prescription for NRT (i.e. Patches) can be organised for you.

Please contact Lola Fasehun, Stop Smoking Counsellor, on 020 7479 8766, or 07946 836662 (mobile) for further information on how she can help you give up smoking.

First Aid Courses
For parents interested in learning basic first-aid and resuscitation techniques. Courses held throughout the year. Please contact Oma Ramroop, Sure Start Health Visitor on 020 7479 8767 for more information and/or to book a place.

UK ONLINE PARTNERSHIP
UK Online Partnership is delivering computer skills training for residents in the Church Street area at:

·        Greenside Community Centre
·        Church Army Day Centre
·        Church Street Library

The partnership consists of:

·        Westminster Adult Education Service
·        Church Street Library
·        Church Army Day Centre
·        Vital Regeneration

Combining these with the computer activities also taking place at Portman Early Childhood Centre, Marylebone Bangladeshi Society and Fourth Feathers Youth & Community Centre, really does give Church Street local residents a huge amount of access to Information Technology (I.T.).

Childcare available at some centres, please see the Church Street Adult Training Guide for more information.

Please call into any of the above centres for more information on classes or ask for directions at any of the work benefits sessions listed in this leaflet.

Baby Fun
An opportunity for you and your baby or toddler (8-18months) to come and enjoy singing, nursery rhymes, stories and socialising in a multisensory room. 

For further details please call Penny Layne or Liz Lowton on 020 7723 8797

Tiny Baby Fun
An opportunity for you and your baby (birth to crawling) to come and enjoy singing, nursery rhymes, and socialising in a multisensory room. 

For further details please call Penny Layne or Liz Lowton on 020 7723 8797

Baby Massage
The 4-week courses introduce you and your baby to the joys of massage. Come along and find out the many benefits for you and your baby. Babies from birth to sitting are welcome.

Contact Penny Layne on 020 7723 8797 or Paulette Noel on 0207 724 2391 for course dates, more information and to book a place.

Fun Tots
These interactive and free fun groups are for carers and their children aged 18 months to 4 years. They offer you the time to play and learn with your children, extending your child's vocabulary, enhancing their social skills and nurturing their creativity and imagination. Groups are based around music songs and rhymes, drama and movement, puppets, storytelling and art, and making things. 

To book a place, or for more information, ring the Parent /Carer Involvement Team on 020 7641 5409.

NEWPIN Drop-in Sessions
These sessions are for parents and carers with children under 5years. A chance for children and parents to take part in organised play activities. We also end our sessions with sing-a-long sessions helping children to develop their skills and co-ordination. Parents can meet new people and staff team on hand for support.

Please contact Jane or Carol at NEWPIN on 020 7724 6765 for information.

Childminders Drop-in   
An opportunity to meet other childminders in a supportive environment. There are activities for children. For parents who are thinking of using a childminder to care for their child, or interested in becoming a childminder, this is an opportunity to come to talk to the childminders about the work they do.

The last Wednesday of every month the Drop-In is open all day for childminders.  Please contact Ruth Murray for dates and times on 020 7479 8781.  

KIDS Sensory Group
For children using the KIDS Home Learning Programme and those attending the Under 3s Group in The Portman Early Childhood Centre Nursery. This is a drop-in group and parents from KIDS Home Learning service stay with their children for the session.

For more information, please contact Theresa Lazar or Ruth Williams at KIDS on 020 7641 4151.

Activities in the Portman Drop–in and Toy Library
There are a number of interactive activities for you and your child at the drop-in and toy library including singing, and creative play. You are also welcome to borrow toys during opening hours.

Contact the Portman Centre on 020 7641 5435/5436 for further information.

Activities in Church Street Library
Come in for a fun session of story telling and singing for parents and children under 4 years. A great chance to drop in and collect your Bookstart Bags with advice and information about books and reading.

Entertainment for under 5’s at the library - A monthly programme of activities for parents and children under 5 years. Groups from local nurseries and/or playgroups are welcome to attend.

For more information on any of the library activities please contact Laila Shaikh on 020 7641 7594.

Bengali Women’s English Reading and Writing Group

Come and learn reading and writing in an informal and relaxed environment on a one-to-one basis.

For more information please contact Mahbuba Khan on 020 7641 5474/07740 899 100.

Parents Forum
The group comprises of local parents who want to represent their community on the Sure Start Children’s Centres Board, as well as parents who want to meet with other parents in an informal environment and be actively involved with community groups, events and organisations. 

Contact Fatima Ahamed 020 7641 5409 if you would like more information.

Muslim Women’s Group
The group is open to all Muslim women with their children, and meets monthly in an informal social environment to participate in creative activities. There are also information sessions on various issues that interest the group.

Please contact Fatima Ahmed on 020 7641 5409 or see Samira at the Portman Drop-In if you would like to participate.

Antenatal Classes in NW8
Women (and partner/friend) are welcome to attend any sessions, as a course of 4 (suitable for first time parents) or as single sessions. Some crèche places are available for the daytime classes, but only for women in the Children’s Centre area.

Please note: Antenatal sessions can be organised through interpreters for women whose first language is not English. Antenatal classes in Bengali and Arabic are held regularly. For further information call Liz Knight,the Children’s Centre Midwife on 020 7724 8687.

Evening Classes
Usually a course of 4 evenings every other month.

Time:             Wednesday 6-7.30 pm.

Place:             Church Street Library, Church St, NW8 8EU

To book:         Telephone the Children’s Centre Midwife on 020 7724 8687

Daytime Classes
Usually a course of 4 afternoons every other month

Time:              Monday 1.30-3pm

Place:             Portman Early Childhood Centre, Salisbury St, NW8 8DE

To book:         Telephone the Lilac Team Midwives on 020 7887 1709

Pregnancy Information Service
A service offering additional information and advice in pregnancy such as maternity benefits and employment rights, advice on “minor” complaints of pregnancy, diet and exercise, giving up smoking, breastfeeding advice, antenatal class bookings and extra midwifery support. 

Contact the Children’s Centre Midwife at Lisson Grove Health Centre on 020 7724 8687 for an appointment or to request a home visit.

Aqua Natal
An opportunity for pregnant women to meet together, have fun and get fit in the water. Suitable for pregnant women from 12 weeks of pregnancy until their due date, and from 6 weeks after the birth.  Crèche available.

Time:             Wednesday 12.00 -12.45pm (term time only)

Place:           Jubilee Sports Centre, Caird Street, W10 4RR

To book a place ring the Children’s Centre Midwife on 020 7724 8687.

Breast Pump Hire
Available at Lisson Grove Health Centre.

Ameda electric breast pumps available for hire to women living within Children’s Centre area.  Hire prices start at £6 per month.

For more information, or to discuss your needs, please contact either

The Children’s Centre Midwife or Health Visitor on 020 7749 8767.

Bravado! Pregnancy and Breastfeeding Bras
Available at Lisson Grove Health Centre.

Bravado! Pregnancy and Breastfeeding bras are available to women living within the Children’s Centre area at a discounted price of £12.50 (Normal price £23.50). To see the beautiful and very comfortable range, or to book a fitting, please contact either the Children’s Centre Midwife on 020 7724 8687 or Health Visitor on 020 7479 8767.

Matching underwear for pregnancy also available.

Breastfeeding Advice Line
A phone line dedicated to supporting breastfeeding. The Children’s Centre Midwife and Health Visitor are available between 9am – 5pm to give support, advice and answer all questions related to breastfeeding. They can also offer home visits if necessary.

Support Line Number – 020 7479 8767

Breastfeeding Support Drop-in
Every Tuesday, 2am-3pm at Lisson Grove Health Centre.