A Family & Child event was held last week in the Stornoway Town Hall on 3d September, organised by Comhairle nan Eilean Siar’s Early Years Family Support Team.
The aim of the event was to bring together as many services as possible who offer support to families of young children. It showcased the variety of support that can be accessed within the Western Isles, as many families may not be aware of where to seek support in any aspect of family life such as parenting, financial support, employability and health & well-being.
In attendance was Comhairle nan Eilean Siar’s Employability team, who were helping to promote Parental Employability Support Fund (PESF). PESF can offer support to parents in the Western Isles by taking a holistic Key Worker approach by supporting parents to upskill and/or re-train, increasing family income.
47 Families attended the event and accessed many of the different services. This is the second year the event has been organised and held within the Stornoway Town Hall.
Last year, similar events were held in 4 different rural locations on the island, which will continue to be delivered throughout the island, to allow the wider community to access.
The services present at the event were:
- Early Years Family Support Team
- CNES Employability
- Baby Bank (0-5 years)
- Info about becoming a childminder
- Health Visitors
- Action for Children
- Speech & Language
- Occupational Therapy
- Tighean Innes Gall
- Hebridean Housing Partnership
- Point & Sandwick Energy Support Unit
- Safe Families
- The Shed/Little Stars
- CnaG – Thig a’chluich
- Childsmile
- Citizens Advice Bureau
- Gaelic Family Learning & GME Advice
- Social Security Scotland
As well as the services available to families, Bookbug Sessions were delivered throughout the event. Bookbug sessions build relationships with families, strengthen the links between learning at nursery and at home and help promote how stories, songs and rhymes support children’s brain development (emotional, thinking, language and literacy skills) with parents & carers.
If parents and/or carers are interested in finding out more about the Family Support Service, they can follow them on Facebook at ‘Family Support Services – Western Isles’ or e-mail: familysupport@cne-siar.gov.uk
For more information on Western Isles Employability and the parental support available, scan the QR code attached, or email: employability@cne-siar.gov.uk