"Daddy daycare" comes to Guernsey!

Friday 09 February 2018

Home-Start is launching a new toddler group aimed specifically at dads, grandparents and male carers.

The sessions start this weekend and will run weekly on alternate Friday and Saturday mornings, with Home-Start volunteers "asking those that come what they would like from the group" so it can be tailored to meet their needs and interests.

The charity already runs two similar groups on a Tuesday and Thursday at Roseville in St Peter Port and Les Camps Methodist Church in St Martins.

This third "Dragonflies" group is again supported financially by the Sarah Groves Foundation, fulfilling the charity's aim of working with children. The groups' Dragonflies name is inspired by Miss Groves' fascination for drawing them. The groups focus on giving "young children the opportunity to explore different arts and crafts with their parents." They are specifically aimed at pre school children with "a welcoming and supportive environment to play and learn."

More than 60 families regularly attend the existing groups and Home-Start says feedback suggested there was enough demand for a dedicated group for male carers.

The free "drop-in" sessions will be held at Vale Church Hall starting on Saturday 10 February and then alternate Friday and Saturdays. Like the other groups it will run between 09:30 and 11:30.

Home-Start Guernsey's co-ordinator Ayesha Camara thinks the new Dragonflies group will prove popular:

"It was felt that there was lots for mums on the island but nothing really for dads; you have lots of mother and toddler groups.  Our current Dragonflies are for families and we welcome both mums and dads and granddads but we wanted somewhere that men can go with their children and where they don’t feel out of place.

"We are hoping that this will be really popular on both Fridays and Saturdays.  We would like to see as many as possible coming along."

Mrs Camara said initially there will be toys, games, play doh and crafts available but future sessions will be planned around feedback from those who attend.

Mrs Camara said the sessions will be open to any male carer who wants to attend:

"Home-Start is a charity that offers support, friendship and practical help to parents with young children within their local community. It offers a unique service, recruiting and training volunteers – who are usually parents themselves – to visit families at home who have at least one child under the age of seven to offer informal, friendly and confidential support.

"To help give children the best possible start in life, Home-Start supports parents as they grow in confidence, strengthen their relationships with their children and widen their links with the local community."

Home-Start Guernsey is based at Roseville Community Centre in the Petit Bouet. It states: "Families supported come from all sections of Guernsey’s community and may ask for support for many reasons; perhaps they are struggling with postnatal illness, a child’s disability, family breakdown or bereavement or maybe they feel isolated and unable to connect with the local community. Whatever the reason, Home-Start provides non-judgemental practical and emotional support and helps build the family’s confidence and ability to cope."