I visited Hope Vineyard Oxford’s fun sorting bags combined with ‘stay and play’ in the Cowley Centre on a Wednesday in January. I was struck by the impressive, giant doorway in the Centre and the beautifully arranged second-hand children’s clothes and toys in the front part of the space. Such a colourful welcome for the initiative.
I walked in and there were mums and dads and little kids enjoying looking at all the lovely quality items for sale, at really low prices, for families in the area. In the back half of the space, which stretches back 30 metres was a cordoned off area full of parents – mums, dads, carers, and young children playing together amongst wonderful toys. People sat nursing their babies on comfy sofas and beanbags. There was such a special, tangibly peaceful, loving atmosphere, with everyone clearly enjoying themselves.
A warm welcome for everyone
I was given a warm welcome and a hot chocolate by Jules Stevenson, who oversees the Hope Oxford Charitable initiative, and met one of the dedicated volunteers whose role it is to welcome each family coming to the stay and play/fun sorting bags reception area. She also looks after the shop in an amazing way. She takes down the shop every day with lots of shelving full of toys and hanging rails for the for clothes, so quite a complicated task. She clearly loves it! I met her several times, during the session, with a beaming smile and armloads of beautifully organised piles of little baby clothes, carrying them from the storage area and putting them out on display. It’s a unique and really inspiring and positive place to be – with all those families that were there were so noticeably relaxed.
One first time mum nursing her three-week-old baby, was being supported by one of the trained volunteers. Parents were talking with each other while their children played with the toys in what is a nurturing and safe space and with so much love and care and mutual encouragement being shared between volunteers, parents, carers and children.
Support for parents
I witnessed the interaction between the initiative leader Georgia, project worker and mum herself, who’s been employed through Well Together funding. What was subtle about the session was that some of the parents were volunteering and helping sort children’s clothes whilst their children played and were looked after by others. I was able to then interview some of the parents, including childminders who visit weekly as an outing with the children they care for. One lady who came originally with her first baby, has also been coming with her second child, even though they have moved to Kidlington. She said “I come because myself and my children have received so much love and support”
There is no obligation or pressure for any of the parents or carers to volunteer to help, but in the community/family supportive atmosphere and ethos where others are helping out, it is hard not to offer a helping hand! Jules showed me upstairs to the beautifully arranged storage area for the clothes and equipment carefully catalogued.
Hope Oxford also offer a Sunday morning breakfast for anyone who wants to come and many of the stay and play families come to this, with no pressure to join the church.
A family story time with children, babies and parents gathered around Georgia was a lovely end to the session for everyone, including a special ‘goodbye’ to a family with a baby and toddler returning to Austria.
Rachel Woods
Community Capacity Builder, Community First Oxfordshire
Well Together is being delivered in partnership by OCVA and Community First Oxfordshire and has been funded by the NHS Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, and Berkshire West Integrated Care Board (NHS BOB ICB).