European Social Fund in England

Welcome Centre Park South project

This is a family centre, offering advice, support and respite to parents and families in an area of high deprivation. For two years, the centre has used ESF funding to offer a range of training courses, in first aid, parenting, literacy and numeracy, catering and cookery, childcare, back-to-study, and entering the world of work. Many of these courses challenge deep-rooted habits, stereotyping and beliefs.

The funding has supported a crèche for every training session. Creche spaces are at a premium in this neighbourhood, and many of the volunteers, attracted to this work by their experience here, have been supported to enter professional training.

In 2004 the centre franchised its good practice at another base, in a neighbouring catchment area. The core member of staff recruited for this work was, controversially, male. Such was the standard, that recruitment of beneficiaries was double the original projection throughout the year. And not only this core member of staff but the centre's clerical officer have recently entered professional three-year training courses, in social work and in childcare provision.