West Berkshire National Education Union donates £2,000 to Educafé

West Berkshire National Education Union has donated £2,000 to Educafé in Newbury.

The donation will go towards the Educafé Parents Village.

The funds will contribute to the delivery of a schedule of post-natal health and wellbeing experts between now and March next year.

This will include breastfeeding, sleep, potty training, baby weening and nutrition consultants.

Consultants include midwives, physiotherapists, breastfeeding experts and first aid trainers whose expertise may be otherwise unaffordable or difficult to access.

Nowhere else is this kind of support offered in one place – the relaxed environment at Educafé allows for friendships to blossom and mums to hang out with the experts they wouldn’t normally get to see so easily or for free.

Educafé director Janine Ford said: “Educafé and our community of over 400 local families is incredibly grateful to the NEU for their contribution to Parents Village.

“These funds facilitate us to schedule a unique programme of post-natal and early years experts and baby-friendly activities at Newbury Library.

“The parents who join us every Wednesday say that these sessions make them feel supported, connected and informed.

Many parents, grandparents and carers who visit Educafé’s weekly café at Newbury Library are on maternity or from low-income families so often cannot afford to pay for such services privately and local NHS services are incredibly limited.

Educafé says mothers greatly appreciate having access to these experts.

NEU joint branch and district secretary Richard Hand said: “West Berks NEU is keen to support local charities as part of its ‘No Child Left Behind’ campaign.

“NEU knows how much good work the Educafé does and how important the Parent Village is as part of the support it offers.

“Services for parents and young people have struggled financially, and the NEU recognises how important it is to support children and their families at the earliest possible stage of intervention.”

West Berkshire’s executive member for children, education and young people's services Heather Codling said: “It is great to see organisations such as the National Education Union getting behind and recognising the importance of local initiatives such as Educafe.

“This kind of support is invaluable and without it, incredible resources that help numerous people could be lost.”