Lambeth Early Action Partnership start major refurbishment works

The work at The Mulberry Centre, which holds a free One O‘clock Club for children under five every Tuesday, Thursday and Friday 13:00-15:30,  took place over the last month (2 October –3 November 2017) and was carried out by contractors Bolts and Heeks. Work included improvements to safety and security, soft landscaping, renovations, new kitchen facilities, new flooring as well as new children’s toilets and repairs to the plumbing.

Laura McFarlane LEAP director said: “It is fantastic to complete the work here at Mulberry One O’clock club and we are now looking forward to developing other sites in the Lambeth area.

“It is crucial that children in Lambeth have the facilities to ensure that they get the best start to life as possible.

“The rebuild will provide a warm and welcome new space for families to meet and engage with the LEAP programme.”

As part of the LEAP Capital Project there will then follow other developments on a number of Lambeth estates, children’s centres, early years hubs and One O’clock Clubs, with work expected to start this winter. 

The LEAP Capital Project has been produced in partnership with the National Children’s Bureau (NCB) and Lambeth Council. 

Cllr Jane Pickard, Lambeth’s Cabinet Member for Families and Young People, said:

“It’s great to see this work completed, the first of a series of LEAP-funded improvements to play areas and buildings across four of Lambeth’s most deprived wards.

“The council believes that intervening early to tackle some of the problems many families face can make a real difference to the future life chances of their children. LEAP, in which the council is a key partner, is critical in carrying out some of this work, especially in showing what methods work best.

“But first we need to create attractive, high-quality places for families to come and meet while children play. The work done will enable Mulberry to be one of these places. I look forward to meeting families there when it is finished.”

LEAP works in the Lambeth wards of Stockwell, Vassall, Coldharbour and Tulse Hill. LEAP is one of five A Better Start partnerships across England supported by the Big Lottery Fund. Using National Lottery funding, these partnerships aim to improve the diet and nutrition, social and emotional development, and speech, language and communication skills of babies and young children to give them the best possible start in life.

Cllr Paul Gadsby, Vassall ward councillor, said: “It’s great to see this space being spruced up for local parents and children. This is a highly valued centre and the work being done should ensure it attracts many more families for years to come.”

LEAP works in the Lambeth wards of Stockwell, Vassall, Coldharbour and Tulse Hill. LEAP is one of five A Better Start partnerships across England supported by the Big Lottery Fund. Using National Lottery funding, these partnerships aim to improve the diet and nutrition, social and emotional development, and speech, language and communication skills of babies and young children to give them the best possible start in life.

Cllr Paul Gadsby, Vassall ward councillor, said: “It’s great to see this space being spruced up for local parents and children. This is a highly valued centre and the work being done should ensure it attracts many more families for years to come.”