The early years project was initiated with an awareness that the travelling community do not, in the main, send their children to pre-school groups, despite the Government's assurance of a place for every three-year-old. In order to establish links with the families and to meet them regularly, bookbags and activity bags were produced for the families to use. These were delivered and collected weekly from the families on the site.

Parents are happy with this scheme and have also requested pre-school provision. The families fondly recalled our service's pilot pre-school provision that operated on the site for three months early in 1998.

We have arranged storytelling events, in league with Brent Literary Festival, which involve the parents as much as possible. We have secured funds from Sure Start and the Family Learning Millennium Award, which will enable us to convert an onsite building into a community centre where we plan to run a pre-school group and a homework club. We hope to run a Reading Is Fundamental project for children to choose books which they can keep free of charge.

Many of the mothers have expressed a desire to try courses, particularly childcare, hairdressing, first aid and driving theory. With the support of Brent Adult Education Service, we hope some will work for a City and Guilds Caring for Young Children certificate, gaining their practical experience in the onsite playgroup. We also plan to link into Brent Homestart's family lifeskills course.

Ultimately, our services wish to see the travelling people playing a vital part in all aspects of the community.

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