4 days ago
- General
- North Wales Chronicle
'Flying Start' scheme in Deiniolen is making a difference
More than 70 children in Deiniolen are now accessing support through the Flying Start programme, which provides free childcare and family services for two-year-olds and their families.
Cyngor Gwynedd has invested nearly £600,000 of Welsh Government funding to improve facilities in the area and deliver the scheme.
Thirteen children are already receiving care at the new Cylch Meithrin Deiniolen building, which was officially opened by Councillor Elfed Williams.
Councillor Williams, the local member for Deiniolen, said: "It was great to have the opportunity to open the new site, chat with the families and to see which new resources and facilities that are now available to us locally in Deiniolen.
"I'm delighted that Cyngor Gwynedd's Early Years Unit has worked successfully to expand the scheme – it's good news for the children and families of Deiniolen and also for one of the most deprived areas in the county."
Councillor Elfed Williams cuts the ribbon at the new facility at Deiniolen (Image: Supplied) The Flying Start programme, funded by the Welsh Government, offers an enhanced health visitor service, family support, speech and language help, and 12.5 hours of free childcare for two-year-olds.
The new site in Deiniolen includes offices for the Flying Start team, who are now based close to the Cylch Meithrin and available from Monday to Wednesday.
Sue Layton, team leader for the Family, Children and Family Support Team, said: "We are pleased to bring our Family Support service to Deiniolen.
"Our mission is to ensure support for individuals and families in the community.
"We look forward to continuing to support the Deiniolen families."
Leia Jones, treasurer of Cylch Meithrin Deiniolen, thanked the community for its support.
Ms Jones said: "We especially want to thank those who volunteered their time to help set up the new Cylch – for helping to move everything from the old site, to paint the building and to plant flowers outside.
"We are truly grateful.
"We look forward to seeing the Cylch go from strength to strength over the coming months and are very excited about the future."
Councillor Menna Trenholme, Cyngor Gwynedd's cabinet member for children and family support, said: "Having access to good childcare locally can make a world of difference to a child's development.
"Schemes like this give children the best start and also address deprivation."
