The staff team at Hope will be working from home from Monday 23rd March 2020 until further notice. We have taken measures to make sure families can contact the Early Years, Children’s Centre and Contact Centre teams and details of the numbers to use will be available from Monday. The Centre will be closed from Monday for the foreseeable future.
The Early Years department only will be open between 9 and 4pm daily from next week for children whose parents/carers are key workers.
We appreciate that this will undoubtedly be hard to manage for us all but hope you understand that we must follow guidance and do what we must to minimise the impact upon the community. We hope that all our families and children remain safe and well.
Updates to the situation will be made on our social media platforms and website. If you want to get in touch, however, our email info@hopefamilycentre.org will be operating as normal during office hours.

Department contact number from the 23^rd March 2020

Early Years (During stated opening hours only)
07851 962461

Children’s Centre
07395 959240

Contact Centre
07956 275636

CORONAVIRUS STATEMENT

March 17^th 2020

This statement supersedes the previous March 13^th statement, updated in view of government advice issued on 16^th March.

Owing to the situation we find ourselves in, we fully understand that everyone is potentially worried about the immediate future.

We can assure you that we at the HOPE Centre are doing all we can to keep the setting clean and open.

We will not close until we are forced to, but, with immediate effect, all offsite groups and home visits will cease. Whilst the Centre remains open, we will try to retain as many services as possible. However, the following services and activities are affected:

• Our Bingo, Easter Bunny, Weaning Workshop and Saturday Softplay events are cancelled.
• Baby Massage and Baby Yoga will not run until further notice (check the Baby Brain website for online support).
• Wriggles & Giggles is cancelled until further notice.
• PWP classes with Cathy Williams on Tuesdays will continue for the time being. Cathy will contact you if the situation changes.
• Let’s Play Bounce and Rhyme will not be held at the Halo Centre Library on Friday but will continue in Oscar’s Café if there is demand.
• Baby Let’s Play will continue on Thursdays but without a Health Visitor in attendance.
• Oscar’s Café and Softplay will remain open but we have removed the ball pit for hygiene reasons.

To help us stay open we request that the government guidelines are followed: if you or a member of your household shows any symptoms or have been sent home from school or work, the household must self-isolate for 14 days.

We thank you for your continued support and trust you all stay safe and well.

This statement supersedes the previous March 5^th statement, updated in view of government advice issued on 12^th March.

The Department of Health & Social Care (DHSC) and Public Health England (PHE) are leading the UK government response to the Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak – https://www.hse.gov.uk/news/coronavirus

The latest guidance on the government website states:
We are asking anyone who shows certain symptoms to self-isolate for 7 days, regardless of whether they have travelled to affected areas. This means we want people to stay at home and avoid all but essential contact with others for 7 days from the point of displaying mild symptoms, to slow the spread of infection.

The symptoms are:

• a high temperature (37.8 degrees and above)
• a new, continuous cough

You do not need to call NHS 111 to go into self-isolation. If your symptoms worsen during home isolation or are no better after 7 days contact NHS 111 online at 111.nhs.uk. If you have no internet access, you should call NHS 111. For a medical emergency dial 999.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/covid-19-government-announces-moving-out-of-contain-phase-and-into-delay

If you display any symptoms as above, please follow the advice and remain at home in self isolation. This advice applies to everyone.
We do not currently have any plan to close the Centre unless a significant event or advice dictates otherwise. Such an event or advice may include inability to open premises due to staff illness, an outbreak locally, government instruction or local authority advice.
As we have many families and children accessing the centre daily, we are aware that it is important to maintain strict hygiene and continue to be vigilant.
Please use the hand sanitisers in our reception areas in both buildings and ensure you are following the latest health advice on prevention, including handwashing and self isolation.
If anyone requires any further information, we have appointed our two main points of contact as Sarah Eardley, CEO, or Anna Beddows, Centre Admin Manager.

Thank you.

March 5^th 2020 update

 

Hope for Children & their Families have been asked by some people and parents about the measures we have in place regarding Coronavirus.

We continue to be vigilant about the health of our staff and those we work with. Parents/carers and other professionals should advise us immediately if they believe they have been exposed to the virus or to anyone who is affected.

We are following the advice from the government and Public Health websites. These are accessed daily to keep abreast of latest developments. We are all responsible for making sure together we can contain any possible risk of spreading infection.

Guidance with regard to handwashing, health and hygiene has been updated and posters and information is available in the public areas of our centre. We continue to operate our usual standards of hygiene with regard to our facilities, resources and the setting in general.

The Centre does not intend to shut during this period unless a significant event or advice dictates otherwise.

If anyone requires any further information, we have appointed our two main points of contact as Sarah Eardley, CEO, or Anna Beddows, Centre Admin Manager.

Thank you.

Sarah Eardley

CEO

Hope for Children & their Families prioritises the health and welfare of our community. In light of the ongoing situation here and abroad, please follow the advice from Public Health England and the World Health Organisation.

If you believe you are affected please act according to the advice on these websites.

Thank you.

Sarah Eardley

CEO