Babyzone comes to Scotland: Glasgow Hub opens at Easterhouse Sports Centre
On Friday 5 June, Babyzone opened its first Scottish hub at Easterhouse Sports Centre in Glasgow, marking a significant milestone in the charity's mission to give every child a fair start in life.443 people came through the doors on opening day. 174 families. 112 toddlers. 111 babies. It was a powerful reminder of just how much spaces like this are needed.
Scotland's first Babyzone
Babyzone Glasgow is the charity's tenth hub nationally and its first north of the border. Every Friday during term time, families with little ones from pregnancy to age 5 can drop in to Easterhouse Sports Centre from 9:30am to 2:30pm. There is no booking required, no cost to attend and no referral needed. The hub offers classes throughout the day including Baby Sensory, Baby Massage, Toddler Sense, Little Kickers and Mini Professors, alongside soft play, crafts, reading areas and construction play. It is the same model that has already supported more than 100,000 families across England, now brought to Scotland for the first time.
Officially open
Maureen Burke, MP for Glasgow North East, attended the opening and cut the ribbon at 11am. Speaking at the event, she highlighted the importance of free, accessible early years support in the area."All you have to do is walk through the door. That is what makes Babyzone so important because services like this are so needed to level the playing field. Almost 59% of children in the most deprived areas reached a good level of development by the time they start primary school, compared to 79% in the least deprived. That gap isn't fair."
A place to breathe out
Victoria Allan, who leads Babyzone Glasgow, spoke at the opening about what the hub means to her and to the families it serves."This is not just classes and activities. It is a place where you can walk in and breathe out and know that you are not on your own. Your child gets the best possible start and you get the support that you actually deserve."
Brilliant partners from day one
Babyzone Glasgow launched with a strong network of local organisations on hand to support families. Attending on the day were NHS Health Improvement Team, CrossReach Bluebell Perinatal Service, NHS Pre-5 Immunisation Team, Aberlour, Home-Start Glasgow North and North Lanarkshire, Easterhouse Citizens Advice Bureau, Dad's Rock and the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Community Midwife Easterhouse team.This is the Babyzone model in action, bringing health, wellbeing and family support together under one roof, free and open to all.If you would like to explore a partnership with Babyzone Glasgow, we would love to hear from you. Get in touch at hello@babyzone.org.uk
Made possible by our funders
Babyzone Glasgow would not have been possible without the generous support of Q Charitable Trust and Ethos Foundation. We are incredibly grateful for their belief in what we are building and their commitment to giving families in Easterhouse the support they deserve.
Come and find us
Babyzone Glasgow is open every Friday during term time at Easterhouse Sports Centre, 9:30am to 2:30pm. Free for all families from pregnancy to age 5. No booking needed.
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