For the period 1st November 2022 – 31st October 2023
This was the sixth year of Botley Bridges providing support for families with young children in the local area with drop in sessions and courses. Our aims continue to be:-
- Supporting learning for young children
- Helping families to access and enjoy outside spaces
- Preventing isolation of new parents and parents with young children
- Helping parents and children to maintain good mental health
- Creating a strong local community and reducing barriers to access
- Supporting families in acquiring skills which help to create strong families
- Providing information to parents about other organisations which support families.
256 Local families attended our sessions this year.
87 from North Hinksey
43 from Cumnor
32 from Botley Road/St Frideswide Parish
71 from areas such as Farmoor, Appleton, Wytham, Wolvercote, Kennington
23 unknown locations
We were also very pleased to coordinate the third successful year of the Christmas Hamper scheme, which supplied hampers to local families on low income.
We have also continued to fund families (as requested by schools) on low income to enable children to attend out of school leisure activities and residential trips.
The work of Botley Bridges is only possible through the generosity of donors (both private & organisations) and our thanks go to North Hinksey & Cumnor Parish Councils and the County Councillors for this area. We would like to
thank Armaleggan Morris side for being their charity of the year and for the donation from Binsey Fete.
Thanks also to large donations form the Doris Field Trust and the Lucy Group.
We would like to thank our Coordinator and trustees without whom Botley Bridges could not function. We would particularly like to thank the volunteers who give their time so willingly and support families with a listening ear and a cup of tea.
Accounts 1/11/22- 31/10/23
| Income | £24,727 |
| Grants | |
| North Hinksey Parish Council | £3000 |
| Cumnor Parish Council | £5000 |
| OCC | £2000 |
| Doris Field | £1000 |
| Armaleggan Charity of the year | £2629 |
| Binsey Fete | £1000 |
| Other | |
| Large donations | £5132 |
| Income from sessions | £4966 |
| Expenditure | £19,680 |
| Salaries/casual | £11,248 |
| Premises | £3,668 |
| Insurance | £332 |
| Equipment | £335 |
| Telephones/internet | £491 |
| Company costs | £270 |
| Hampers | £692 |
| Family grants | £844 |
| Other expenditure – training/ accounts | £1800 |
Services provided
Supporting new parents
- 44 baby groups were run throughout the year
- 72 families attended the Friday morning baby group
- 7 intergenerational groups were run at Chawley Grange
Supporting new parents through the very early days has always been very important to Botley Bridges. We continue to run a weekly Baby Group in the Seacourt Hall and use Peeple materials to support parents and babies learning. The Health Visitors join us once a month to provide a Well Baby Clinic which runs alongside the Friday Baby Group. Parents can get their baby weighed and also speak to the Health Visitors about any concerns they may have during this session.
We also ran a weekly online baby group which we had instigated during COVID lockdown. This ceased in July 2023 as numbers had dropped and new parents preferred to meet face to face. We were supported during this session by Vanessa Campion, a Health Visitor who volunteers her time to help out. We have also run a specialised online workshops covering babies’ sleep which is often something parents struggle with. We have signposted families to other support groups such as Oxfordshire Breastfeeding Support, OXPIP and HomeStart.
We linked with Chawley Grange care home and hosted a fortnightly intergenerational session when residents could come and be with parents and their young babies. Although these sessions were open to all it was more popular with parents of babies – the residents really enjoyed chatting with parents and took part in the singing. 7 sessions were run from July 2023 until the end of October and this group continues to run.
Feedback from parents
- Very glad that this session exists, especially during the summer. Really liked and enjoyed the intergenerational group. Thank you for having sessions in an area where public transport is decent (I can’t drive due to health reasons).
- We really enjoy coming to the baby group. It’s brilliant to be able to meet local mums and babies and my baby finds it really valuable.
- I like the concepts we talk about each week and meeting new mums. It is very interactive for babies too.
- I recently moved to Oxford and Botley Bridges Baby Group has connected me with my community and let me know about local services and groups and given my little girl so much joy! I highly recommend it.
- We love the baby group, especially the songs. Having the Health Visitors each month is also really useful.
First Aid courses
- 22 people attended
- 100% of attendees said that they would recommend the course to others.
Paediatric First Aid courses were held. Parents had the choice of attending either in the afternoon or evening to fit in with their family/work life. These sessions are always very well attended and are especially popular with first time parents of young babies. The course is also open to Grandparents and any other family members who have contact with young children.
Stay and Play Sessions
Weekly and monthly on a Saturday
- 39 Stay and Play sessions were held with 83 families attending over the year.
- 10 popular Saturday sessions attracted 82 families. Average attendance of 21 families per month.
- 8 Summer holiday sessions with 152 family attendances
The purpose of Stay and Play sessions at Botley Bridges is to show parents/carers how children learn through everyday play. A range of age appropriate resources and activities are provided at each session and we ensure that everything we do is easily replicated at home on a no cost/low cost basis. Staff are well qualified and advocate the importance of the Early Years.
Families are supported with wide-ranging issues such as domestic violence, finding child care/nursery places, child development, speech and language issues as well as signposting families to other support agencies. Peer support is very much encouraged and many friendships are formed at these sessions.
Botley Bridges currently run a weekly Stay and Play Session at Botley School, where we can use an early years outside space and provide craft and messy activities that families find hard to provide at home. During the Summer we expanded our provision to 2 sessions a week and aimed activities at older primary children as well.
Feedback from parents – Summer holiday sessions 2023
- Really great to have baby group and stay and play running over summer when lots of other groups are closed. Lovely sense of community with other families and company on maternity leave!
- The children have a great time every time. It’s really helpful to us as parents as a cost-effective way to entertain our pre-school children and give them the space and environment to play and learn.
- Absolutely great playgroup all year round. Total life saver in the holidays when all the other play groups and preschool activities end.
- Great facilities, lovely staff, really appreciate it being on in the summer. The kids love the art. All good fun!
- Great sessions, lots of variety for all age groups. So important to have these sessions over the summer when so much else closes or is expensive. Welcome space and lovely members of staff.
- We like the messy play and the singing. Having an extra session on a Wednesday is great too.
Feedback from Saturday sessions
- Brilliant group with such helpful and kind volunteers. Just what parents and carers need.
- Botley Bridges play sessions are always brilliant but the Saturday sessions provide a much needed and appreciated chance for working parents/carers to come and play and craft with their children. Great for the whole family to be able to play together and socialise with other families too.
- Such a wonderful session. My daughter loves mixing with the different ages of children. The staff are so helpful, informative and kind.
- It is great having these sessions on a Saturday as it gives parents who work during the week a chance to come with their children. It is also a very inexpensive way to keep the little ones entertained and to help them socialise
Christmas Hampers for households on low income
- 108 bags of food distributed just before Christmas to families on low income
Once again Botley bridges coordinated local residents to spread some Christmas cheer to local families and households. Local residents donated both money and goods and 108 bags of Christmas goods (gifts and food items) were packed and delivered to households. Many folk volunteered to pack and deliver and over 3 days Thank you to all who were involved and donated – there are too many to mention by name. Thanks to the Church who let us use the hall with no charge over the 3 days and to the Lucy Group who donated £500. This is the 4th year we have run this event and once again it really illustrates that our local area is full of folk who want to make a positive contribution to others.
Grants for families
During this period Botley Bridges supported local families with financial support for out of school activities for families who are experiencing particular difficulties. Schools and health visitors are welcome to request support and give details of the help needed and each grant is agreed at trustee meetings. A total of £844 was given in grants to 7 families to support out of school activities during this year.
Trustees
Sue Wastie – chair of trustees for the period
Kim Randell – treasurer for the period
Sarah Cohen – secretary for the period
Trustees for the period – Amy Walters, Veronica Cucuiat, Louise Kunzeman, Karen Starr, Sue Dowe
