FEBRUARY SESSIONS AVAILABLE TO BOOK NOW
Please consider volunteering
Our sessions only run with the help of amazing people like you! If you would like to see more sessions in our timetable or would like to help with an existing one, or you have a couple of hours a week to help us with admin from the comfort of your own home, please click a link below or click here for more information.
Private Party Bookings!
The Bridge is the perfect venue to hold a party!
Set in the tranquil gardens of East Greenwich Pleasaunce, you will have exclusive use of our large, enclosed, all-weather outside play garden complete with playground equipment (brand new in August 2020) and our ride-on toys.
We are THE SUSTAINABLE PARTY VENUE where every penny spent with us goes directly to helping your local community.
- Saturdays 11am-2pm (party to run 11.30am-1.30pm)
- Sundays 10am-1pm (party to run 10.30am-12.30pm)
- Sundays 2-5pm (party to run 2.30-4.30pm)
Continuing to Support Families in 2022
All sessions are term time only unless otherwise specified
Baby Group in partnership with Marsha Kinkaid and "Happy Mummy Project"
Mondays
10am-11am
Being a mum (or dad) is really hard work and we often forget ourselves because we are too busy caring for our little ones. We want you to know that it's okay to do both.
The Bridge Baby Group is working together with Marsha Kinkaid and "Happy Mummy Project" to ensure that parents get looked after too.
The sessions are run by experienced volunteers who are on hand to make you a cuppa, hold the baby whilst you go to the loo, or just keep an eye and have a chat.... or a listen. Alongside this, we will have a series of experts drop in to offer their professional advice and activities - including art therapy, first aid training and health and wellbeing advice.
We are privileged to be partnering with Marsha and look forward to meeting you soon.
Our Baby Group is sponsored by More2 Nurseries.
Tiptoes & Tappers Pre School Ballet
Tuesdays
9.30-10am
Join Tiptoes & Tappers for fun and friendly pre school dance classes.
Pre school ballet classes teaches the foundation of ballet using games, props and creative exercises. We create a relaxed environment where children will learn to dance while improving their coordination, enhancing their musicality and growing their self-confidence.
Teachers hold a minimum level 4 qualification in dance, have DBS checks, safe guarding trading and First aids certificates.
Pre-booking is essential as we cannot allow drop ins at this time.
Outdoor Adventurers
Tuesdays
10.15-12pm
Join our Outdoor Adventurers Stay & Play sessions and let your child's imagination run wild!
Sail the high seas on our new play ship, or travel to far flung places on the Bridge Express.
Mind the clickety clack bridge and whizz around the race track in our ride on cars and scooters.
Please read our COVID-19 Guidelines on our FAQ's page to learn more about how the sessions will run and the steps we are taking to ensure the sessions are Covid -secure before you book your ticket.
Pre-booking is strongly advised as drop-in spaces are very limited.
Homeschooling
Wednesdays
10am-12pm, 10am-2pm & 12pm-2pm
A term time group for home educating families hosted by local parent volunteers. We focus on free play with plenty of options for child-led activities.
The session runs 10am-2pm; you can attend for the morning session, afternoon or all day.
Please pay on the day.
A separate chat group is available for this session. Please get in touch with us to find out more.
Pilates by Beth
Thursdays
9.30-10.30am
No specific equipment needed, just snug clothes and a smile, and there'll be a session to help you feel lengthened and strengthened for the day ahead.
**In person sessions starting again 21st February**
Pre-booking is essential as we cannot allow drop ins at this time.
Makers & Creators
Thursdays
10.45am-12.15pm
Alongside OUTDOOR free play, Ruth and Julieta will be ready with hands on arts and crafts activities. The session is relaxed and child-led; using a range of different materials, including natural items we find on site. We will explore colours and shapes; letting imagination lead the way.
Please read our COVID-19 Guidelines on our FAQ's page to learn more about how the sessions will run and the steps we are taking to ensure the sessions are Covid -secure before you book your ticket.
Pre-booking is strongly advised as drop-in spaces are very limited.
Outdoor Explorers
Fridays
10-11.45am
If you have a toddler desperate to move and explore, we can’t wait to welcome you back to ‘Ruth’s Outdoor Explorers’. Over the weeks there will be a mixture of outdoor activities with of course lots of fun to be had in our shiny new playground and opportunities for some gardening and Forest School style action in our open green space.
Please read our COVID-19 Guidelines on our FAQ's page to learn more about how the sessions will run and the steps we are taking to ensure the sessions are Covid -secure before you book your ticket.
Pre-booking is strongly advised as drop-in spaces are very limited.
ProInfinity Toddler Football
Saturdays
9.30-10am
Our fantastic pre school football programme introduces basic skills through fun games and activities, designed to accommodate the requirements of social distancing. Our programme is led and designed by our own Head Coach who is UEFA B licensed coach, who previously had 5+ years working in professional football.
All children can take part in the activities and help them gain an understanding of the FUNdamentals of football.
Sessions last for 30 minutes to enable maximum enjoyment for the little ones.
Please be confident that we are ensuring government guidance is part of all our lessons.
Pre-booking is strongly advised as drop-in spaces are very limited.
Saturday Active Play
Saturday 2:30-4:30pm.
In partnership with ProInfinity Coaching and Tiptoes & Tappers, we have been addressing the urgent need for genuine inclusive activities, delivering weekly sports and dance sessions for disabled children (0-8yrs) and their families. These sessions are a welcoming and inclusive space, providing specialist equipment and support for disabled children to be active.
Sport and physical activity bring people together and no-one should be excluded from taking part. Disabled people are half as likely to participate in sport and physical activity compared to their non-disabled peers, primarily due to a lack of opportunity, inclusivity and accessibility. Covid-19 meant many of these families needed to shield and had little or no space or equipment to be physically active. This drastically affected many disabled children's physical and emotional wellbeing and further isolated them and their families from opportunities that previously existed.
"I love that this is something all three of my girls can do together. We work hard to make sure Blythe doesn't miss out but these sessions are lovely because it's for Blythe but the other two are included. My niece also comes along who is the same age as Blythe. Thank you so much for these. It's so good for Blythe to see other children like her, with the same equipment as her and for activities to be inclusive so she can be fully involved and achieve" Laura - parent
The multisport or dance activities will take place between 3-4pm, with half an hour either side for families to arrive/leave, play on the playground and socialise with each other. Sessions will alternate, and the week split is below so you can see when each activity is;
Dance: 8th January / 22nd January
Multi sports: 15th January / 29th January
We ask families to contribute £5 per family for the sessions, this will be paid directly to The Bridge (card only) and will go towards funding the sessions for the future.
You just have to fill this form out once, and then we will keep an attendance register each week. Please fill the details on the form on behalf of your child, there is the opportunity to add extra siblings.
Your information will be kept and used in line with Access Sports GDPR policy, which you can find out more information on our website: www.accesssport.org.uk/policies.
Any other questions, please contact [email protected] or [email protected]
The Holly Tree Club
The Holly Tree Club is a well-established breakfast, after school and holiday club catering for children from Halstow, Millenium, St Mary Magdalene Primary Schools and Steiner School based a The Bridge and at The Bell House (within the grounds of Halstow Primary School). The club is open 3.30-6pm Monday to Friday during term time. Breakfast club, held at The Bridge, will hopefully return in September from 7.30am to 8.50am providing breakfast and care to children attending Halstow Primary School.
The Holly Tree Club aims to provide a happy, safe, secure and relaxed environment offering high quality accessible play opportunities for children.
"We believe that play is really important to a child's well being and healthy development as an individual. We offer children the opportunity to freely choose activities and resources and the range of activities we provide always reflects the interests of the children in our care."
Volunteering & Outreach
Volunteering at The Bridge
We have a fabulous team of Volunteers and supporters who help us to run Stay and Play sessions, Events and special activities, finances and fundraising, who work in so many ways to help our community and support local children and families. We would love to welcome you on-board. Click the button below to find out more about volunteering at The Bridge and to join our Volunteer Family.
Our Outreach Activities & Partners
We work closely with other organisations to help support the vulnerable members of our community. With a team of wonderful volunteers, we regularly collect food surplus from local supermarkets and our friends and neighbours and distribute to the HER Centre, Clockhouse Community Centre, Robert Owen Nursery and local primary schools. This food is then distributed to families in the local area who need a bit of extra support. We also have a close relationship with the QEH Children's Ward and pre-COVID were fortunate enough to host a Christmas party for the children on the ward and their families. We also work with MumsAid and GRACE.
Corporate Hire
The Bridge is available to hire for local community groups, classes, workshops etc aimed at any age group. Hourly rates are available for short and long term hire.
What is The Bridge?
We are a Community Interest Company (CIC), led by volunteers providing safe, engaging sessions, events and activities for local families. We are an inclusive, welcoming centre passionately committed to supporting our community.
The Bridge was set up in 2012 by a determined group of volunteers to save it from government closure in 2011. The Bridge is a large, enclosed, secure garden with brand new outside playground, an indoor play room, adjoining kitchen and indoor adult and child toilet facilities.
Under the leadership of General Manager, Lucie and Grounds Manager / Director, Ruth, the centre still relies heavily on volunteers for all operational needs from running Stay & Play Sessions to Accounting, Marketing and the Board of Directors. The Bridge is a thriving hub of the community, working closely with partner organisations to provide support to families when needed, training and opportunities for local people who have taken a career break or need to re-train and acts as a launch pad for local businesses.
New Playground NOW OPEN!
We were awarded over £38,000 from the Greenwich Neighbourhood Growth Fund in 2020 to replace our old playground equipment with some exciting new play opportunities. We put a lot of thought in to the options and we hope you love it as much as we do.
Meet The Team
General Manager, Lucie and Deputy Manager / Director, Ruth are the people you will see most. They are supported by a team of enthusiastic volunteers for all of the operational needs of the centre. We also have a Board of volunteer Directors who give their time and expertise to keep the wheels turning and ensure we meet all of our community needs.
Lucie
General Manager
Ruth
Deputy Manager / Director