Bright Horizons opens 30th Bright Space for vulnerable children

The Foundation, run by Bright Horizons nursery group, has partnered with the Metropolitan Police to create its 30^th Bright Space by transforming Putney Police Station’s interview and waiting rooms into family-friendly spaces.

The aim of the Bright Space programme is to create and support warm, enriching spaces within communities across the UK, Ireland and America that give children and families in crisis a special place to play and have fun.

Through partnerships with Bright Horizons clients, local shelters and community and Governmental organisations, the Foundation builds stimulating spaces equipped with games, toys and art supplies.

For its new Bright Space (pictured), the Foundation worked closely with the Metropolitan Police Child Abuse Investigation Team to enhance Putney Station’s three interview rooms, two waiting rooms and a kitchen area by adding soft furnishings and equipment for police interviewers to use to support vulnerable children.

It follows on from a previous partnership with the Metropolitan Police, in which the Foundation created a mobile resource pack for police officers to take to locations when interviewing children.

Next month, Bright Horizons’ Foundation for Children will start work on turning an interview suite at Edgware Police station in London into a Bright Space.

Tracy Wilkes-Green, Bright Horizons’ foundation manager, said, ‘The Bright Horizons Foundation is proud to partner with the Metropolitan Police Service to support their amazing work, assisting children when they are at their most vulnerable. I would like to thank DC Luke Williams, DCI Paul Monk and their teams for working with us to make these projects come to fruition and all of the Bright Horizons staff who have helped us to achieve our 30^th Bright Space in Europe.’

Detective Superintendent Steve Williams of the Metropolitan Police’s Child Abuse Investigation Command, said,  ‘We are committed to continuously improving the service we provide to victims of child abuse. An important part of this means making our interview rooms as welcoming as possible, ensuring vulnerable victims can speak to us in confidence and in comfort.

‘The Metropolitan Police takes issues of safeguarding children extremely seriously and with the assistance of the Bright Horizons Foundation and its supporters we now have a comfortable space within Putney police station where families in crisis can relax. I would like to thank the Foundation and its supporters for all its hard work in bringing this vision to reality.’