News:

The Centre for Fun & Families has an exciting new business plan which involves keeping up the valued group work in the City and County of Leicestershire with our Multi-agency partners and to develop work in several new areas. More and more groups are being offered to parents and young people as the Centre grows and trains more group workers.

Training:

The Centre for Fun & Families are working towards having the training they deliver locally and nationally accredited which will mean that the Centre will continue to offer very competitive training with group workers having an accreditation to deliver our group work programs. A new program of training will be offered to group workers over the next year, so that more parents will be able to receive a service.

New resources:

The Centre for Fun & Families have had funding from Leicester Children's Fund to develop a professionally illustrated booklet which accompanies the group work and will be good for all parents to keep a record of their progress. The booklet uses very little wording so will be particularly good for parents who don't have English as a first language and for parents with reading and writing difficulties.

Future Builders:

The Centre for Fun & Families has recently received funding from Future Builders England. Two consultants have been working closely with trustees and staff, to ensure the organisation is in the best possible shape to manage the challenges ahead. Strategic and business planning is the current priority, all staff and trustees are involved in meetings to drive this forward, the aim is to have a clear vision and plan for April 2009 the new financial year.

New staff:

The Centre for Fun & Families have employed several new staff to work in the City of Leicester to provide and coordinate group work. We are soon to have more administration support at the Centre. The Management structure in the Centre has changed to having a Centre Manager and a Deputy Manager.

Systems:

The Centre for Fun & Families have developed many new systems to be able to provide up to date information on referrals and a quality customer service to our parents and referring agencies.

Trustees:

The Centre for Fun & Families has a committed group of Trustees who have recently benefited from Governance training provided by the two consultants funded by Future Builders England. We have also recruited more Trustees to help steer the Centre into future work. The Trustees will soon become directors when the Centre moves to being a Ltd Company.

New funding:

The Centre have benefited from funding from Leicester Children’s Fund and Parenting Fund. Leicestershire County have increased the funding to the Centre so it can work towards key objectives.

National Academy of Parenting Provision:

The Centre for Fun & Families are currently working with the National Academy of Parenting Provision to evaluate their established group work programs so that commissioners of training will be able to compare our programs strengths with other parenting provision.

Publicity and promotion:

The Centre for Fun & Families has recently featured on BBC Leicester Radio and in The Leicestershire Teenage Pregnancy Newsletter, to promote their work and the joint working with partner agencies.