Happy new year from all of us in Westminster Family Hubs!
We are all hoping for a more predictable year ahead. However since our last newsletter we have all of course been dealing with another Covid wave and we know that a number of you have been ill over the past few weeks. Thank you to all the parents and young people doing their best with the additional safety measures at the start of this term. We have now received the news that these are being lifted as case numbers are falling.
Our play sessions continue to run in the same way as last term - smaller numbers but you can drop in on the day. To help us keep running, do avoid coming out if you have symptoms, sanitise your hands and wear masks when asked, and please consider taking a lateral flow test beforehand if you are going to be in a group. The best protection you can provide for yourself, your family and the community is to get your vaccinations and boosters. You can get up to date information about walk in centres to get your vaccinations here:
This winter, there will be an influx of coughs, colds and chest infections in children aged 0-3.
To reduce pressure on local healthcare systems, Barnardo’s is providing a helpline advising on respiratory illnesses, focused on supporting parents / carers from Black, Asian and Minority communities.
Our advisors can provide a service in English, Punjabi, Hindi, Urdu, Albanian, Polish, Luganda, Ruyankole, Rukiga, Rutooro and Kinyarwanda. Interpreters can be provided for other languages.
The Boloh helpline can provide advice, guidance and support on what to do if your child has a chest infection. Our advisors can help with:
Recognise signs and symptoms of Chest infections
Self-manage respiratory infections at home
How to access the right health support
Access to resources, including food vouchers, toys, digital devices
Are you thinking of becoming a Childminder?
Want to know more about childminding as a career?
Join one of our FREE Information sessions and we
can answer your questions
To find out when the next session will be held
or for further details please contact Glynis Mates:
The ParentChild+ Programme is available to families with a child aged 21 months - 2½ years, whose parents are worried about their child’s communication and social-emotional development. Each week a trained Early Years Home Visitors gives the family a free toy or book. The Home Visitor models fun activities to the parents during 30 minute home learning sessions, twice a week.
This exciting programme has proven to increase children's communication and social-emotional skills. Children are better prepared to interact with adults and other children in school. This programme last 12 - 15 months and is free to families living in North Kensington, Worlds End Estate, Queen's Park, Churchill Gardens and Church Street.
VOLUNTEER WITH US!
Could you befriend a family to offer friendship,
practical advice and emotional support?
Or help a pregnant woman prepare for her new baby?
Do you have time support families weekly?
If so, this volunteer role is for you!
Home-Start Westminster helps families across three West London boroughs, providing befriending and therapy support in line with Covid-19 guidance. We are currently recruiting for our January and March 2022 online preparation course.
Hear from some of our inspirational volunteers below and find out how you can get involved.
We are also recruiting volunteers to support refugee families with young children from Afghanistan who
have been placed in Westminster.
Expenses are reimbursed.
C O N T A C T U S
F O R M O R E I N F O R M A T I O N O N : 0 7 5 1 5 5 7 3 3 5 5 t o n i @ h s w e s t m i n s t e r . c o . u k w w w . h o m e s t a r t w e s t m i n s t e r . c o . u k R e g i s t e r e d C h a r i t y N o . 1 1 0 9 5 6 8
The Taste of Westminster Cookbook supported by Westminster City Council is our own way of adding a little bit of sparkle to anyone’s cookbook collection. This edition is a collection of recipes from children, young people and adults with disabilities who live, work or go to school in Westminster. We hope the recipes in this edition inspire you to get cooking.
Myths, Misconceptions & The Media
Critical Thinking Skills Workshop
Connect Futures is delivering workshops on critical thinking skills which are open for all professionals and community members that want to improve their critical thinking skills. Join us to learn about the increasingly complex and sensitive topic, tackling perceptions around fake news, conspiracy theories, Incels and extremism, and how to support vulnerable people (and each other) to build resilience to fake news, conspiracy theory and related extremist ideologies.
The training session is free to attend and will be delivered virtually.
To register for the training, please click the links below:
Myths, Misconception & The Media | 02.03.22 | Communities | 17:00 -18:30. Register here
Myths, Misconception & The Media | 23.03.22 | Professionals |10:00 -12:00. Register here
Myths, Misconception & The Media | 23.03.22 | Professionals |14:00 -16:00. Register here
The training will help you to build your knowledge and gain confidence and will provide practical tools and techniques. You will also gain free access to Connect Future’s web portal with several resources available to support you.
Have your say with the Westminster Residents' Panel
Westminster City Council is currently asking how residents like to stay informed about local news and council information, and inviting residents to join a Residents' Panel. By becoming a member of the council's new Residents’ Panel you will be invited to take part in surveys and participate in paid discussion groups over the coming year, looking at a variety of different topics.
For now, these will be held online, but some may be in-person sessions and they’ll be inviting a cross-section of Westminster’s residents to take part. As a thank you, for each discussion group that you participate in, they will provide you with a £35 Love2Shop gift voucher, redeemable at over 40 shops, including: Argos, ASDA, ASOS, H&M, Better Gyms, Uber Eats, Pizza Express and Ticketmaster!
The Taste of Westminster Cookbook supported by Westminster City Council is our own way of adding a little bit of sparkle to anyone’s cookbook collection. This edition is a collection of recipes from children, young people and adults with disabilities who live, work or go to school in Westminster. We hope the recipes in this edition inspire you to get cooking. 
By becoming a member of the council's new Residents’ Panel you will be invited to take part in surveys and participate in paid discussion groups over the coming year, looking at a variety of different topics.