Children and Families

Want to have a ROARsome with your children whilst helping them learn? Our free Peep course explores how you can make the most of learning opportunities in everyday life. Suitable for babies (non-walkers).

Tuesdays from 30 September to 21 October.

10:00 - 11:00am.

To book, please email kathredmond@gl11.org.uk or call 01453 548530.

Need a new bundle of children’s clothes to keep up with growth spurts?

Our next BOBS - Bank Of Baby Stuff is on Wednesday 22 October, 9:30 - 11:30am.

Join the recycling revolution! Take away what you need, everything is FREE! Just drop in (please bring a bag if you can).

BOBS coincides with our Cost of Living Day, offering a whole range of free advice and support as well as £1 meals in our cafe all day. For more information on our Cost of Living Day click here.

Please note due to overwhelming response, we are not taking any further donations for October’s BOBS.

Things are getting a bit spooky here at GL11 for Adventure Play during October half term! Are you brave enough to join us?

Tuesday 28, Wednesday 29 and Thursday 30 October.

5 - 7 year olds from 10am - 12pm and 1 - 3pm: £5 per session, including a snack and drink.

8 - 11 year olds from 9:30am - 3:30pm: £15 per session, including lunch.

Concessions are available.

To book, please contact kathredmond@gl11.org.uk or call 01453 548530.

Join us on Thursdays after school in November and December for six weeks of outdoor, active, creative, screen-free fun for 5 - 11 year olds.

Thursdays from 6 November - 11 December.

3:45 - 5:45pm.

£5 per session (includes a cooked meal and a drink).

Booking required, please email kathredmond@gl11.org.uk or call 01453 548530.

Parenting a neurodivergent child can be tricky, but throw siblings into the mix, and things can feel overwhelming! Do you have a sensory seeker and avoider in the same home? Do differences at mealtimes cause havoc?

This free workshop looks at how to manage clashing needs and help home life become calm(ish).

Corrina Wood has been working with neurodivergent families for over 20 years, managing a family support service and carrying out disability consultancy work. She has a Masters in Autism and works as an Autism Practitioner, working with young people in a secondary school two days a week. Most importantly, Corrina also has lived experience with four of her own neurodiverse children.

Saturday 15 November.

10am - 12pm.

Secure your space by contacting dawnhalls@gl11.org.uk.

Creche for under 11s available with limited space (£10 per child), pre-booking essential.

Drop in and join us for creative, messy play for you and your little ones aged 0 - 4, every Monday morning.

9:30am - 11:00am.

£2.50 per family (£3.50 from 3 November).

No booking required, just drop in.

Please note that we are not able to accommodate children older than 4 in this group.

Meet with other parents with neurodiverse children (no diagnosis needed) to share experiences, strategies and tips. Rest assured you are most welcome here, even if you have been made to feel unwelcome elsewhere.

Mondays (term time only)

1 - 2:30pm.

Free (with free creche available for 0 - 4 year olds only).

The support group is drop-in. To reserve a space in the creche please email kathredmond@gl11.org.uk.

We currently have free creche sessions for 0 - 4 year olds at GL11 on Monday afternoons, 1:00 - 2:45pm.

Why not take advantage of our free creche to go shopping, attend a group at GL11, or just relax in the cafe with a hot drink and some cake, while children are safely at play with our fully trained families team, Kath, Kim and Lindsay.

We also occasionally run one-off creche sessions to help parents participate in activities at GL11. Check out our Activities & Courses section for any specific details.

There is a limit to creche numbers on any one day, so best to ring GL11 first on 01453 548530 just to double check on availability.

Please note that we are not able to accommodate children older than 4 in the creche.

This friendly drop in group for 0 - 4 year olds is held in Sharpness Village Hall every Wednesday.

Includes a snack, a drink, and a monthly Health Visitor session.

9:30am - 11:00am.

£2 per session (£3 from 5 November).

No booking required, just drop in.

Runs term-time only.

Please note that we are not able to accommodate children older than 4 in this group.

No session on 22 October.

Shine’s Creative Therapy & Wellbeing Course for mothers dealing with depression, anxiety, isolation or overwhelm covers a wide range of arts and coping strategies, giving mums a mindfulness toolbox.

Local artists join us to run a variety of workshops, including crafts such as: felting, macrame, painting, slow-stitching, journalling and collage, jewellery making, poetry, and mosaics.

We know from experience how effective creative therapy can be for people who are struggling, and it provides a vital distraction and calming tool for when mothers are feeling anxious or low. Each session, mums leave with something truly beautiful that they can feel proud to have created. Attending our sessions, mothers boost their confidence, share their worries and experiences with other mothers going through the same thing, and get some much-needed ‘me’ time, along with a hot cup of tea and someone to talk to.

Wednesdays from 17 September to 10 December (no session 29 October).

12:30 - 2:30pm.

Free, with free creche for 0 - 4 year olds.

To book, please email rebekah@shine-support.org.

Drop in to our Family Fridays at GL11 to join other families with children aged 0 - 4 for playful activities and a delicious, freshly cooked lunch.

Includes a monthly Health Visitor session and our Community Pantry is also open 10am - 12noon every week.

9:30am - 12 noon.

£3.50 per session (includes lunch for 2 adults and children, additional adults will need to pay £2.50 for lunch).

No booking required, just drop in.

Runs term-time only.

Please note that we are not able to accommodate children older than 4 in this group.

We know you can't wave a magic wand to make toothbrushing easy! Why not come and chat with Gemma, our resident Tooth Fairy, about tips for tooth care and oral hygiene?

Second Friday of the month, 9:30 - 11:30am as part of Family Friday.

No booking required.

We have a monthly Health Visitor session at both our weekly Family Friday sessions at GL11, and at our weekly Sharpness Parent & Toddler group in Sharpness Village Hall.

No need to book. If you need to see a Health Visitor, just drop in and see us on one of these dates.

Join a fun-filled Stay and Play session at GL11 Community Hub. A perfect opportunity for dads and their little ones (0-5 years) to connect, play, and make new friends.

Second Saturday of every month.

10am - 12pm.

Click here to book.