Billingshurst Children and Family Centre has services for everyone

The Centre is in Station Road, in front of the Billingshurst Leisure Centre. It has a social area with an internet café and play area, a training room where most of the session groups gather, a meeting room and an outside play area. Wakoos Nursery is also located within the building, but is managed independently.

Billingshurst Children and Family Centre offer a range of easily accessible services for families from the surrounding villages, including Shipley, Coolham, Wisborough Green, Loxwood and Plaistow, offering information, advice and support as well as groups and activities for under 5’s.

The Children and Family Centre staff work with partner agencies to provide services for families with children aged 0 to 5 years old.

These services include:

Child and family health services, including antenatal and postnatal services, and speech and language support.
Family support and parental outreach services.
Links with schools and extended services, and the Children's Information Service.
Support for children and parents with special needs.
Links with Job Centre Plus and local training providers to support parents and carers considering training or employment.

Through consultation and support from the parents of Billingshurst and the wider community, a weekly programme of groups and activities runs at the Centre. It is constantly looking to improve services with and for families.

The wide range of activities includes:

Several drop-ins, with play, craft and music sessions for parents with babies and pre-school children.

‘Mini Mayhem’ a child minder support group, is on alternate Tuesday mornings offering local child minders somewhere to meet in the village.

The popular session ‘Bumps and Babes’ runs on Monday afternoons, for pregnant mums and new parents. It has a varied programme including baby massage, treasure baskets and footprint keepsakes.

On the first Saturday of each month there is a ‘Family Brunch’ – a chance for families to come to the Centre for activities as well as enjoying a ‘Brunch’. At the same time ‘Mini Bounce’ also runs at the Billingshurst Leisure Centre. These sessions offer fun on the bouncy castle, parachute games and more!

The Toy Library is available twice a week and during the Family Brunch, and includes a vast range of toys suited to pre-school children. A one-off £2 membership is charged, and thereafter all toys borrowed are free. This enables parents and grandparents to keep children’s interest with a constant rotation of quality toys which offer new and exciting challenges and help parents to support their children as “early learners.”

The Citizens’ Advice Bureau visits the Centre monthly and appointments can be made. A thriving Baby Clinic run by local Health Visitors is held every Tuesday afternoon. An Antenatal clinic runs every Monday morning, please call for an appointment.

Hummingbirds is a music session for children under 5 with additional support needs, run by an experienced music therapist.

There are now a growing and active group of volunteers, both in the Centre and the surrounding villages. They help to cover Reception, run groups and activities, deliver leaflets, and put on holiday activities.
Partnerships with local people, parents and grandparents, are key to building stronger communities, and the Centre has been overwhelmed at the local support.

Strong partnerships are also being developed with local schools, pre- schools and the leisure centre to raise awareness of our services, and to find ways to work together for the benefit of local families.

All sessions at the Centre are informal and cost £1 or £2 per family.

For further information or to get involved call the Centre Team, on 01403 213594 or email office.billingshurst@westsussex.gov.uk We look forward to meeting you.