From Dr Amanda Gummer.
I AM writing to express my delight and amazement at the wonderful facilities provided by The Bridge.

I was fortunate enough to visit The Bridge during my recent visit to Jersey exploring parenting support services for families going through divorce or separation on the Island.

I have been involved with children’s centres and primary care trusts in the UK and nothing I have come across rivals The Bridge for its comprehensive multi-agency one-stop approach to family support.

The atmosphere in the centre is friendly and calm, and the quiet room is a sanctuary for parents and an opportunity for them to regroup and manage their own emotions, thus enabling them to help their children cope with their feelings.

The staff are so welcoming and approachable, and parents within the centre seemed to react very positive to the environment.

As well as being convenient for parents to access a range of support services in one location, it also promotes communication between agencies and thus enables appropriate interventions to be implemented quickly and cost-effectively.

With preventative services being so much more cost effective than crisis response services, it is heartening to see that The Bridge combines preventative, universal offering with tailor-made, intensive family work in a most effective and efficient way.

I will be reporting back to the policy groups in the UK that I am involved with and hope they are able to see the benefits that The Bridge offers parents, families and the community as a whole.

It would be wonderful if children’s centres, local authorities and central policy makers can learn from this model of good practice in order to improve family support services within the UK.

My congratulations go to Trish Tumelty and her team for a truly inspirational centre.
FUNdamentals,
122 High Street,
Kimpton,
Hitchin,
Herts.