The Sunshine Centre family and children support charity celebrates 25 years

Staff at The Sunshine Centre celebrated 25 years of supporting parents and children in the area

A charity has celebrated 25 years of providing "incredibly valuable" support to children and families.

The Sunshine Centre, in Bretch Hill, Banbury, Oxfordshire, offers practical help, advice, guidance and emotional support.

The centre opened in 1998 after successfully securing lottery funding.

It has received further grants and funding over the years, including a further £300,000 from the lottery this year.

The centre aims to help local families by "creating the foundations to reduce inequality" and give children the best possible start in life.

It marked the anniversary on Friday with speaker events and presentations, followed by an activity day for children and families.

'Amazing place'

Barbara Buxton, who has been using the centre for two years, told the BBC it was a "place of support for me, a place of refuge".

Sacha Flippence, who has worked there for 20 years and joined after initially using it as a parent, called it an "amazing place".

She added: "It's an integral part of the community. I've never known a place like it."

Charlotte Anscombe, who has been coming to the centre for five years, said: "You mention to anyone around here about The Sunshine they will all tell you stories of how they've used it in various ways... it brings everyone together."

Anita Higham, former principal of Banbury School who was later appointed a trustee of the charity, described its work as "crucial".

She said: "I was very impressed by the activities and care… it serves an incredibly valuable purpose for this particular part of Banbury."

The charity has expanded over the years, including adding a new extension in 2020.

It also includes a nursery, classes and courses for local families, baby and toddler groups, and weekly antenatal clinics in collaboration with the NHS.

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