Actor John Thomson opens new Sure Start Centre in Didsbury Park

Actor and local Didsbury resident John Thomson joined children, parents and staff for the official opening this week of the brand new Sure Start Centre that has just opened in the middle of Didsbury.

The actor - himself father to two young children - visited the centre to see first hand what activities it has to offer families.
 
He joined local families and their children as they took part in an afternoon of fun filled activities including bird box and bug box making, art activities, outdoor games, den making, planting, and musical activities.

The new £780,000 centre provides a range of services for families with pre-school age babies and children.

It replaces the old Beehive Play Centre that had been on the same spot as the new Sure Start Centre in the park for thirty five years.

Some of the families using the new centre's services are second and third generation Beehive families who used to attend the old Beehive themselves as children.

Services currently available at the new centre include a baby clinic, a pre-school special needs group, a parent survival course, baby massage classes, stay and play sessions, South Manchester Twins group, and a child minder drop in. A playgroup five mornings a week will be starting soon and other additional services will be developed in consultation with local families.

Councillor Sheila Newman, Executive Member Children's Services, Manchester City Council, said: "Although the old Beehive Centre played an important part in the local community for decades, the facilities and services on offer at the brand new Sure Start Centre are already proving enormously popular with local families and are set to benefit them for years to come."

Members of the public who want to find out more information about services available at the Sure Start Centre can ring 0161 434 1601.