Josh Sheehan Takes Time to Stay, Play and Learn with Bolton Wanderers in the Community
Families attending Bolton Wanderers in the Community’s (BWitC) Stay, Play and Learn session at Alexandra Family Centre were treated to a special surprise when BWFC First Team player, Josh Sheehan, visited with his family.
Stay, Play and Learn’s free weekly sessions support families across Bolton to engage with their children in a range of developmental activities. The sessions help parents build their child’s early skills, preparing children for nursery and school, through play, arts and crafts, sand and water play, football, and biking, before ending with shared reading and singing time.
Aimed at children aged 0-5 years, BWitC’s Stay, Play and Learn aims to increase parental confidence in child development, reduce isolation for parents of Children and Babies under five, increase opportunities for parent peer support and increase opportunities for children to play, learn and develop to support them in their nursery and school readiness.
Wednesday 22nd October, the BWitC team were joined by BWFC First Team player Josh Sheehan and his family. Sheehan took part in the session engaging with his son and other families. Speaking on their visit, Josh Sheehan, said “I didn’t know about the sessions too much before hand, but now knowing about it, you can see my son’s enjoyed it and it’s good quality time spent with him. I think it’s important for dads to go and spend some quality time that they might not otherwise get.”
“It’s important that people know about the sessions and that they’re free as well. It’s a good thing to go and do, to spend some quality time and do some fun things together.”
Hayley Wilson, BWitC’s Health and Communities Manager, on Stay, Play and Learn, said “Bolton Wanderers in the Community deliver Stay, Play and Learn as part of our family hub model in Bolton in conjunction with Bolton Together and Bolton Council. We provide support to children and young people aged 0-5 and their parents, carers and guardians. Sessions look to increase parental and peer support during those early years which for many can be challenging.”
“The sessions are well attended and I think that is because in those early years you need to get out and meet new people, you are starting a new chapter, and it can be challenging. Having these sessions you have access to staff who are able to help with any concerns you might have and identify support if that’s necessary for the families.”
Bolton Wanderers in the Community currently deliver two Stay, Play and Learn sessions across Bolton. The Alexandra Family Centre session runs every Wednesday from 10:00am–11:30am and the Farnworth Start Well Centre session running every Friday, 10:00am-11:30am.
Families from across the borough are welcome to attend both sessions free of charge. For more information on our Stay, Play and Learn session contact Joe at jlawton@bwitc.org.uk