The Together Community Stay and Play group, which meets at the Old Meeting House Mansfield, had a surprise visitor at a Tuesday morning session.

Vanessa Crane, of Nottinghamshire County Council, made a special presentation to the group’s leader, Helen Vale.

Helen had been nominated to receive two awards from the council’s Early Childhood Services Department — for Excellence In Supporting Parents and for Outstanding Volunteer In A Setting.

Helen moved to Mansfield in May 2021 and had a vision to set up playgroups where children and their carers from the whole community would be able to come together for play, fun, and friendship.

The Tuesday morning stay and play group at the Old Meeting House is supported by volunteers from the chapel.

Minister the Rev Maria Pap said: “We are so pleased that Helen’s vision for young families has been recognised. She is so friendly and kind, and works so hard to make things fun for us all.”

Helen, who doesn’t know who nominated her for the awards, added: ‘Thank you and I’m extremely grateful and pleased that people feel like I’m making a difference.”

Stay and Play groups are open to parents and carers with children aged five and under. The Old Meeting House group meets on Tuesdays in term time, from 9.30am to 11.30am and costs £3 per family.

More information is on the Old Meeting House’s Facebook page or the Together Mansfield Facebook page.

Details of the Mansfield Museum Stay and Play group, which runs on alternate Fridays, from 12noon to 2pm, can be found on the Mansfield Museum Facebook page.

The Old Meeting House said it is proud of Helen’s achievements and the opportunity this group offers for children and parents of different nationalities to play, learn, and get to know each other. The group will restart on 10th January.

Another outreach project of the Old Meeting House is the Warm Hub, provided every Friday, from 10am to 1pm with refreshments, wi-fi, games, a Toddlers Corner, as well as Saturday coffee mornings, from 10am to 12noon.
More details are on the Old Meeting House Facebook page and noticeboards.
lPictured left is Helen Vale (left) with Vanessa Crane, of Nottinghamshire County Council.