Family hubs – meet the team

My name is Tina Ayers, and I am a coordinator in the West Family Hubs. I have worked in the West of the City for 20 years.

I am based at Pickles Coppice Family Hub and usually in the building every day apart from Mondays. I support and supervise the team to provide a safe space and a service for the local community that fits the needs for families and their children.

I get involved in the activities that take place in the building if needed and I am on hand to resolve any issues that may need a resolution. I appreciate meeting the families and children and seeing the enjoyment they have when attending our sessions.

I am one of the staff who has the privilege of recruiting and training parent volunteers to become parent group leaders to deliver our evidence-based parenting programmes; Being a Parent (BAP) and Living with Teenagers (LWT). My role also involves co-ordinating the programmes across the city and supporting and supervising the volunteers in their roles of delivering the programmes to as many people as possible.

I came into my role first and foremost as a parent myself and I have gained so much from being involved in this amazing programme.

I have been involved with early help for many years but now I have this exciting role to support parents/careers to increase confidence and knowledge through our parenting pathway and to support volunteers in the community to gain experience to move forward to hopefully gain employment.

As part of my role, I support the local community to gain voluntary experience within our Family Hubs. This can be from helping run our stay and play sessions, supporting with reception cover, garden maintenance, facilitating parenting courses through our EPEC offer and creating or helping with hands-on family friendly themed activities.

My name is Balwinder Khaira and I work as Senior Worker Foundation and Play across Family Hub Central locality.

A part of my role is to coordinate and plan the universal offer including to quality assure the delivery of a range of play sessions, creches and activities for children aged 0-11 years to ensure a stimulating play environment that encourages learning and development. I speak Punjabi and Hindi fluently and can speak Urdu.

My role also involves developing, coordinate and support the delivery of evidence-based parenting training and group work sessions for parents and carers.

I enjoy working with partner agencies such as health, partnership with colleagues from statutory and voluntary agencies as well as parents.

I am a lead playworker in the West Family Hub Team.

I have been in the team for over 10 years, and really enjoy working alongside the families and their children, particularly providing support for children with additional needs.

You will find me in:

• Stepping Stones
• Chatter Matters
• Stay and Plays
• Creches

My name is Harjinder Digwa I am an Assistant Playworker. I speak Punjabi, and understand both Hindi and Urdu. I have been working for Family Hubs for around 17 years.

As part of my role, I deliver various sessions to promote children’s speech and language such as Tots & Tunes and Read and Rhyme group. I lead on a Chatter Matter group, working with the speech and language therapists providing messy and play activities to support families in accessing information to support their child’s speech.

I work with partner agencies such as Saints Foundation, helping to run physical activities locally, so families can access physical activities close to their homes. I run a soft play session for children two years and under, they have fun climbing and sliding around. I also support families in the home, in particular with challenging behaviour.

My name is Munazza Yasin. I am an Assistant Family Hub Practitioner and I have been working for Family Hubs for around 15 years.

As part of my role, I help to support Tots and Tunes sessions to encourage parents to sing and tell children stories. I also help run a stay and play session in which I signpost parents to groups in and around the area.

I also help deliver a Rhyme Time on zoom for parents who are unable to attend groups.

I have the responsibility to keep Swaythling playroom equipment clean and tidy, so it is ready for children to use. I also take care of the sensory garden, planting vegetables, herbs, and flowers. I love watching the children explore the garden.

My name is Nadia Abdul and I am a Lead Practitioner.

Part of the Lead Practitioner role is to deliver Stay and Play sessions, soft play, be the link person for the Healthy Early Years Award (HEYA), link in with community organisations such as the library and support the creche sessions.

While working in sessions, I signpost parents to other groups, events and training that is available through the Family Hubs and community originations.

I deliver Play Packages for identify families on a 1-1 basis in their home and Family Hub to build up confidence. These sessions are developed to support their child’s learning and wellbeing.

I also can speak fluent Bengali. I am always happy to help with translating.