Fun Day To Celebrate Opening Of Flying Start Centre In Bethesda

A day of fun for the family will be held to celebrate the official opening of the Flying Start Centre in Bethesda on Thursday, 25 February, between 3pm-5pm at Plas Ffrancon. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

There will be all sorts of activities for children including crafts, face-painting sessions as well as an opportunity to meet the popular character, Peppa Pig and Fire Man Sam. The Minister for Communities and Tackling Poverty, Lesley Griffiths will be officially launching the centre during the event. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The new facility at the leisure centre has been used by children and families for months and Cylch Meithrin Cefnfaes opened in September 2015. The new Flying Start resource will be a central location in the area for providing child care of a high standard, parenting courses and baby groups and a new location for the Flying Start team including health visitors. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

The Flying Start Centre has opened thanks to an investment of £167,013 from the Welsh Government Capital Fund given to Gwynedd Council’s Children and Supporting Families Department. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Councillor Mair Rowlands, Gwynedd Council Cabinet Member for children and young people: “I’m delighted that the new Flying Start Centre has opened in Bethesda and I’m sure that a lot of local people will take advantage of an opportunity like this to get a look at the new resources during the open day. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“Ensuring children living in some of the most underprivileged communities receive a good introduction to formal education is vital if we are to see each child reaching their full potential in life, and I’m glad that this scheme is now available to more children in Gwynedd than ever before. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The core elements to the Flying Start programme include a high standard of child care at no cost at all, better access to health care, parenting support and language development programmes and early play. I am confident that the children who will be given access to this new service will make the most of it.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Leisa Williams, Gwynedd Council’s Early Learning and Flying Start Co-ordinator added: “There will be a warm welcome to the public during this day of family fun with plenty of activities and an opportunity to meet members of the Flying Start team. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“It’s also a chance to get a first look at the new provisions and learn more about the services we provide here such as child care which is open in the morning and afternoon. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

“The new location includes a new office for the Flying Start team, child care through the Cylch Meithrin Cefnfaes where there will be a safe outside play area purposely built on an external balcony. The centre will offer a fantastic learning opportunity for local children.” ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​

Families are welcome to attend the open afternoon at Plas Ffrancon, Bethesda to celebrate the opening of the Flying Start Centre on 25 February from 3pm to 5pm. ‌​‌​‌​​​‍‌​‌​​‌‌‌‍‌​‌‌​​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌‌​​