SURE START, SURE PROGRESS

Sure Start is the programme to support very young children and their parents and carers.

Sure Start North runs the Children's Centres in our area, with centres at Cairns Way, Fawdon and Halewood Avenue, North Kenton.

Over the past few years, the centres have worked with hundreds and hundreds of local mums and dads and their infants and young children.

Our two centres run regular "toddle times", "ready, steady grow" sessions and child minder drop-ins, together with exercise and language sessions, postnatal and antenatal advice sessions, work with young fathers and so much more.

Newcastle City Council has been picked by the Government as one of only two Beacon Councils in the country for tackling child poverty.

"This is a blot on our society and it's great that Newcastle has been recognised for its work but there's so much more to do," said Councillor Brenda Hindmarsh.

For Sure Start North it's goodbye to Chris Forrester who has been lead worker in our area for six years.

"A big thank you to Chris who will be missed, but there's a strong team carrying on the work," added Brenda Hindmarsh.