The HOPE Centre opened its doors to The Right Reverend Richard Frith from the Diocese of Hereford last week.
The Bishop and his wife, Kay, were invited to the Centre by its Chair, Jan Pearce-Higgins, to showcase the services and support that families and children can access as well as raising awareness of its presence to local Bromyard and Herefordshire residents.
The Bishop chatted with mothers and babies at one of the groups which runs a regular weekly session for families.
The Right Reverend Richard Frith said: “I found The HOPE Centre to be a warm and welcoming place where access to help and support is available. The local community is lucky to have such a wonderful resource and the staff and volunteer team work together in partnership to create an environment where everyone is made to feel valued and where trust and respect abound. The inclusive and holistic ethos of the centre is reflected in all areas of the Centre from the café to the Early Years department, enabling families, children and others in the community to access opportunities and support, depending on their needs.”
The visit was attended by the Centre’s Chair and Trustee, Jan Pearce-Higgins, Gill Tait, Trustee, Clive Evans, Vicar of St Peter’s Church in Bromyard and the Centre’s Chief Executive Officer, Sarah Eardley.
Sarah said: “We were absolutely delighted to welcome the Bishop of Hereford and his wife to our Centre. They were both genuinely interested about the holistic support we offer and the importance of early help to our local families. As a well established Centre with an understanding of local needs, welcoming such an important figurehead was a great occasion for us!”
