Legacy Youth Zone and Babyzone Partner to Combat Parental Loneliness Through a Free Safe Space

Parenthood, while rewarding, often comes with its own set of challenges. One of the significant hurdles parents face is the feeling of isolation and loneliness, particularly during the early years of raising a child. 

Recognising this struggle, Legacy Youth Zone and Babyzone have joined forces to create a unique partnership aimed at alleviating parental loneliness by offering a free safe space for parents and their children aged 0-5 years old.

Legacy is an OnSide Youth Zone which has youth centres all up and down the UK. Legacy is a multi-purpose facility in Croydon, where young people have the opportunity to discover their full potential through a range of activities in a safe and inclusive environment.

Parenting can be an isolating experience, especially for those who are navigating the journey for the first time. The demands of caring for a young child can limit opportunities for social interaction, leaving parents feeling disconnected from their communities. The partnership between Legacy Youth Zone and Babyzone seeks to address this issue by providing a supportive environment where parents can come together, share experiences, and form lasting connections.

Legacy Youth Zone, known for its commitment to supporting the well-being of young people, has collaborated with Babyzone, an organisation specialising in early childhood development, to create a safe haven for parents and their little ones. The initiative offers a physical space where parents can bring their children, fostering a sense of community and mutual support.

Understanding the financial strain that often accompanies parenthood, Legacy Youth Zone and Babyzone have made it a priority to provide free access to resources. From parenting workshops to early childhood development classes, parents can benefit from a range of informative sessions aimed at enhancing their skills and confidence.

Babyzone, with its expertise in early childhood development, recognises the crucial role that socialisation plays in a child's early years. The partnership emphasises the importance of creating opportunities for children to interact with their peers, laying the foundation for healthy social and emotional development. Simultaneously, parents can engage in meaningful conversations with others facing similar challenges, forming a supportive network.

Myke Catterall, COO of Legacy Youth Zone says “Here at Legacy, we are really proud to be working with Babyzone to provide the community with somewhere to go to combat the feeling of isolation. We understand that there is a need for somewhere like this in the community as the cost of living crisis is limiting these social interactions even more so than before. We will continue to help as much as we possibly can.”

To further strengthen the sense of community, Legacy Youth Zone and Babyzone deliver spaces for children to play, run and read. They have a range of free classes which run throughout the day for babies and toddlers where you can dance and sing and chat together. They provide support and advice for local services within each of their locations.

By addressing parental loneliness, Legacy Youth Zone and Babyzone hope to create a positive ripple effect within the community. Stronger, more connected families contribute to a healthier and happier community overall. The partnership exemplifies the power of collaboration between organizations with a shared vision for supporting families and fostering a sense of belonging.

Jessica Barnaschone, Head of Babyzone Croydon says “Babyzone has played a crucial role in preventing loneliness in the boroughs in which we operate. One of which we are very proud of is Croydon. Over 200 families visit their local Babyzone each week in which 55% of these families are from disadvantaged backgrounds. Which is what makes our work so important in giving families opportunities they might not be able to access otherwise.”

The Legacy Youth Zone and Babyzone partnership is a beacon of hope for parents grappling with the challenges of loneliness during the early years of raising children. By providing a free safe space, access to resources, and community-building events, this collaboration is making a significant impact on the well-being of parents and their children. In doing so, it sets an inspiring example of how communities can come together to create supportive environments for families, ensuring that no parent feels alone on their journey through parenthood.

If you would like to attend a Babyzone session for free then check out their website here https://legacyyouthzone.org

Mums And Dads: Time To Thank The People And Places Who Make Your Life Easier...

(…though there’s nothing to be done about your 3am wake-up calls…)

Screaming in the cereal-aisle, bored toddlers running riot in a restaurant, leaky nappies… being a new mum or dad is hard work, and that’s before you even begin to think about the tricky job of parenting.

That’s why since 1995, baby charity Tommy’s has been asking parents to help reward the organisations that are truly baby-friendly in the charity’s annual Let’s get baby friendly Awards ceremony. To date, over 200 awards have been given out to date for vast improvements to services and products.

To vote for your favourite baby-friendly organisations, visit www.tommys.org/awards between 9th January and 20th February 2012. Everyone who votes will be in with the chance of winning a family holiday with Keycamp.

As part of Tommy’s remit to support the one in four couples who lose a baby during pregnancy or birth, the Let’s get baby friendly Awards also strive to thank individuals with its five very special awards. Tommy’s knows only too well that when couples lose a baby, it is often the support provided by the parents’ nearest and dearest that gets them through. To nominate someone for an individual award, describe your reasons in an email to awards@tommys.org.

Miracle Unit

This award gives mums and dads across the UK the chance to thank the neonatal miracle workers who gave their baby the best start in life.

Supported by Hologic

Hero

This award recognises the support of a midwife, GP or any other health professional who has gone above and beyond for mums and dads during pregnancy or birth, or a pregnancy complication. This Award is split into three regions across Great Britain: Scotland, England and Wales.

Supported by Danone Baby Nutrition

Champion Children

The Champion Children Award is dedicated to those born prematurely and to recognise the tenacious spirit of these young fighters.

Supported by Build-A-Bear Workshop

Angel

Do you know someone who's been a real angel during a difficult time? If a partner, relative or friend has supported you through a parenting or pregnancy-related problem such as miscarriage, premature birth or stillbirth, Tommy's and Philips want to give you a chance to say a big thank you.

Supported by Philips Avent

Courage

NEW FOR 2012: The Courage Award celebrates a couple or individual who has had a difficult road to parenthood but has made it through one of the most heart-breaking times in their lives with outstanding courage.

Supported by Asda

The winners of these awards, and their nominees, will be invited to the star-studded awards ceremony on Friday March 16th 2012 at the Landmark Hotel, London. For the Champion Children Award, three randomly selected nominees and a family member will be invited to attend the ceremony.

Celebrity parents attending this year’s ceremony will include Arlene Phillips, Kirsty McCabe, Lizzie Cundy, Cherry Healey, Natasha Hamilton, Jill Halfpenny, Kate Garraway, Lee Mead and Carrie and David Grant.

Tommy’s Chief Executive, Jane Brewin, says ‘We know how heartbreaking it is when a parent suffers a pregnancy problem, loses a much-longed-for baby, or when a newborn arrives too soon and has to spend those first precious weeks in special care. There are some amazing people in the UK who offer support during this difficult time – neonatal nurses, partners and friends and family, superstar GPs and midwives – and we’re really pleased we’re able to say “thank you” to these often-unsung heroes.’

In 2011, Tommy’s introduced a set of new awards, including the EBP Green Award, launched in response to the progress that so many companies are making to augment their green credentials. The Green Award is sponsored by Environmental Business Products, and will honour the most eco-friendly baby company, as voted for by parents.

Tommy's Let's get baby friendly Awards 2012

The voting period for all categories starts on 9 January and ends on 20 February 2012.

Voting is exclusively ONLINE at www.tommys.org/awards

Children suffering as recession forces UK parents to take extra work, says children's charity

Charity warns of a generation at risk, as 72% of us take on more work to make ends meet

The recession has forced almost three quarters (72%) of British parents to take on extra work to make ends meet, a survey by I CAN, the children’s communication charity, and Openreach, reveals this week.

A third are working longer hours, 18% have found themselves with no option but to take on a second job and one in five are now doing extra work from home. More than half (55%) say they have less quality time with their children as a result of their work.

The survey shows that parents of children 0-5 years old understand the importance of regular, quality conversation with their children. However:

• 35% say they rarely have time to talk these days and blame increased workloads
• 19% are too tired to chat with their children by the time they get home from work
• Around a third state that either answering work calls or responding to emails often interrupts attempts to chat with their children.

Although the modern British parent recognises mealtimes as one of the key occasions to engage in conversation with young children, 40% are regularly missing out on these meals due to work commitments.

Kate Freeman, I CAN Communication Advisor, said, “Parents want the best for their children and are well-informed about how important it is to chat with children in order to nurture their communication skills. They’re aware of the key milestones at the different ages and stages of development – but their best efforts are being hampered by the recession’s impact on their working hours.

“We’re concerned at the knock-on effect on young children who need verbal interaction to build their own speaking and understanding skills, especially in the early years. Without these skills they may start school with a lower level of language than expected at their age. The good news is that making time for chat and rhyme will help get children ‘communication fit’ and ready for school.

“To reassure parents that there are quick and simple ways to help their child’s communication we’ve put together 10 tips on building talking and singing into a busy day and are encouraging families across the country to take part in the 11th annual Chatterbox Challenge, from 1-7th February 2012. The Chatterbox Challenge, developed by speech and language therapists, aims to develop children’s communication skills, through songs and rhymes, in homes, nurseries and childminding groups across the country.”

Olivia Garfield, Chief Executive, Openreach, said, “Despite the pressure parents face it is positive that they understand the need to develop their children’s communication skills. We at Openreach support the Chatterbox Challenge as it brings families and communities together and at the same time develops children’s vital speaking and understanding skills. Communication is at the heart of our business and by talking and practising songs and nursery rhymes with their children, parents are helping build the next generation of confident chatterboxes.”

The Chatterbox Challenge is an annual educational and fundraising event for children aged 0-5, to practise nursery rhymes and songs to develop their communication skills. This year’s theme is ‘Kids in Motion: Get active and make chatter matter’, when children will be getting ‘communication fit’ for Summer 2012 by combining words with actions and performing popular songs including ‘Row, Row, Row Your Boat’ and ‘Here We Go Round the Mulberry Bush’.

Thanks to the support of Openreach, donations raised during the Chatterbox Challenge go directly to I CAN’s work with children with speech, language and communication difficulties. In the UK, one child in ten will struggle with a communication difficulty that will persist throughout their lives.

There is still time to register for a free Chatterbox Challenge pack, please go to http://www.chatterboxchallenge.co.uk


(EDITOR: Well, there's the dilemma, isn't it? Food, clothing, a roof over their head funded by the extra income? Or whatever the unpleasant alternative might be...)