The seventh Oldham Family Hub has opened to give children across the borough the best start in life.
Children, parents and carers enjoyed free fun activities and a special ribbon-cutting was performed by Cllr Shaid Mushtaq, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People.
Alexandra is one of seven Family Hubs to have opened since last summer to deliver a wide range of support and activities for families as part of a £3.6 million programme.
The new hub has seen the former Alexandra Children’s Centre on Wildmoor Avenue revamped with former office space transformed into vibrant play spaces.
Mum Erika Simpson brought her two-year-old son Reegan Samuels to the launch after being supported with home visits by Oldham Council’s Right Start service. And Reegan was smiling as he made bubbles in the outdoor play area with Right Start team assistant Lauren Eaton, who has worked with him to help with his communication.
Reegan, who was born with two holes in his heart and only one valve instead of four, is non-verbal and is on the autism assessment pathway. He had his first open heart surgery when he was just three and a half months old and will need a second when he’s four years old.
Erika was put in touch with Lauren through a speech and language drop-in at Beever Family Hub in St Mary’s, the first Family Hub to open last summer.
She said: “I was panicking because I thought he couldn’t communicate with me. But with Lauren’s help I realised he was trying to tell me something but in different ways. Now, in the last two months, he’s babbling.”
And Rozhan Mohamad had a fun afternoon with her two young daughters Loreen and Leen at the Alexandra Hub launch after also enjoying the activities at Beever.
“We have lived in Oldham for two months and we are really pleased with the activities on offer here,” she said.
