Living in a friendly community is often an overlooked necessity in peoples’ lives, but for voluntary projects ‘Leys Children’s Centre’ and ‘Leys CDI Clockhouse Over 50’s’ it is their top priority.

These projects promote community cohesion in Blackbird Leys through a wide range of approaches and are now working together to give an often silenced voice to a vital group of our community: grandparents, through the aptly named ‘Grandparent Project.’ The project focuses on research highlighting the needs of grandparents who either live on the Leys, or who have grandchildren who live on the Leys.

The project researcher, Tanya Prescott, has been talking to local grandparents to find out what they think of what is already on offer and if they have any new ideas. The Clockhouse Over 50s project is also keen to find out if any grandparents would like to suggest new activities that the project could run, so that they can get some well-deserved time to do something fun for themselves and get to meet new friends.

Both the Leys Children’s Centre and the Leys CDI Clockhouse Over 50s projects have been running for several years and both rely on volunteers.

The first offers a crèche service as well as specific parent — children sessions, the second offers activities to the local older residents in the Leys, such as dance classes and support groups.

Having made the most of these two groups’ networks there has already been a lot of interest from grandparents keen to make their views known. For example, grandparents are increasingly being asked to be carers for their grandchildren to enable the parents to go back to work or continue working, and now this hidden army would like recognition.

Grandmother Paula Mitty said: “I think it would be wonderful for grandparents to be acknowledged for the important part they play in their grandchildren’s lives, especially those grandparents who are carers too.”

If you would like to feed back to the Grandparent Project please contact, Tanya Prescott at tanyaprescott@worldclasscommunities.

co.uk or phone her on 07799 893 747.

Additionally, if you would like to volunteer for The Clockhouse Project please phone 01865 395908. All volunteers have to attend our in house training and have a CRB check before they join the volunteer team. See www.worldclasscommunities.co.uk

If you are interested in contributing to this column contact OCVA (Oxfordshire Community and Voluntary Action) by email at voluntaryvoice@ocva.org.uk or call Jackie Balchin on 01865 258915