Lottery cash bid for Colchester parenting group (From Gazette)

Lottery cash bid for Colchester parenting group

2:21pm Friday 18th December 2009

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A PARENTING group which takes a mother and baby into classrooms to help youngsters understand relationships has bid for £250,000 lottery cash.

The Ministry of Parenting, based at the Colchester Business Centre, in George Williams Way, Colchester, wants funding to run a project in Braintree for the next five years.

It got money for a one-year pilot scheme from Essex County Council and the Mid Essex Primary Care Trust.

Now it needs another £50,000-a-year, for the next five years, to continue.

The scheme, called Understanding Each Other, sees a mother and baby visit a class of pupils three times a term, so they can watch the baby grow and develop during its first year of life.

The scheme aims to help children understand the needs of others by first understanding how babies interact with their mothers.

The original plan was to run the scheme in four schools, but it was so popular ten Braintree schools are now taking part.

Bosses would like to develop it in other districts, including Colchester, but need funding, support and positive results when the pilot scheme ends in the summer.

Catherine Lowenhoff, director and Understanding Each Other co-ordinator, said: “The programme originated in Canada.

“The idea is learning, but not just about reading and writing, but about relationships too.

“The pupils love it. Babies are magnetic and the children are fascinated by them. The children seem to really engage. Even the boys.

“I thought the boys might not be as interested, but they’re the ones who seem to ask a lot of questions.”

It is hoped the scheme will lead to a reduction in violence in relationships, and also help reduce the number of teenage pregnancies in the long-term.

Each class is producing a book to document what they have learnt and observed, which will be presented to the mother and baby at the end of the year.

Louise Simons, 29, of Gilbert Way, Braintree, has been visiting Alec Hunter Humanities College, with her five-month-old son Jake.

She said: “I was amazed by the children’s enthusiasm.

“They wanted to know so much about Jake.”

Mrs Simons, who is a midwife at the Princess Alexandra Hospital, in Harlow, said Jake also enjoyed all the attention The schools taking part are:Tabor Science College, Alec Hunter Humanities College, Lyons Hall Primary, Beckers Green Primary, Great Bradfords Junior, John Bunyan Junior, St Francis Primary, Bocking Church Street Primary, Stisted Primary and Cressing Primary.

If you would like to help fund the scheme, please call Mrs Lowenhoff, on 01206 562626.

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