Holbeach Little Miracles has opened drop-in support and family play centre

A new family centre will be providing much needed help and support for parents and children in the area.

Little Miracles has officially opened its Holbeach drop-in support and family play centre for children with additional needs on Saturday.

The centre was fully renovated over an eight week period and represents a big step forward for the group, which had previously been running services from a hired room.

Branch manager Elizabeth Batterham is over the moon to have this centre finally open after seeing an increase in the numbers of families needing support since lockdown.

Miss Batterham said: “It is a big relief to have the centre open now as we know that it is needed and we are pleased to be able to offer the services on a permanent basis.

“There is a lack of support in Lincolnshire for children with additional needs. Many families get the diagnosis but don’t get the support afterwards.

“We have been trying to provide that support but when you only hire a room for a couple of days a week you can’t give as much support as you would like.

“But now we are open we can provide more support regularly. The children have an area to play in while we can talk to parents to give them what they need.

“Since lockdown there has been an awful lot more families.”

The new centre includes a sensory play area for youngsters along with a conference room, kitchen and disabled toilets along with showers.

The play area has a nautical theme with a pirate ship.

Miss Batterham said: “Some families couldn’t access the support as some things they would prefer not to discuss in front of the children. But now we have the space.”

The centre was officially opened in a ribbon cutting ceremony on Saturday by Holbeach councillor Tracey Carter.