Norfolk Community Foundation has recently offered a grant to Welney St Mary’s PCC to fund a playworker for the school summer holidays. This is the third year that this support has been provided.
Funding from the Norfolk Community Foundation has allowed Welney St Mary’s to provide a playworker for two hours a week in the school holidays.
The play sessions take place during the Coffee Social events at the church, taking place each Thursday morning. The playworker, funded by the grant, provides craft and play activities for children between the ages of six months to sixteen years. Most of the children are from Welney, others sometimes join from nearby villages. Whilst children play, their parents and carers are able to join other adults for coffee, cake and a chat. Don't worry, there's cake and squash for the children too!
The craft activities are adapted accordingly to celebrate e.g. Easter and Christmas, throughout the year. During the October half-term, they offer an extra art sessions as part of ‘Swans Return’ - an event that celebrates the return of the migrating swans to Welney.
The success of these play sessions - the only activity for children in the village - has led to the planned development of a new toddler group in the village. This has been funded by the William Marshall Charity, which provides funding for projects in Welney.
