After being a stay at home mum for more than five years, Laura Bluer felt it was time to get back into work mode, stretch her brain cells and build up something of her own.
Her career had always been admin-based with stints as a secretary and PA for several companies in London, working at an interior fit out company, for the Home Office, an investment bank and then Cancer Research UK.
She felt it was time to try something different, that would fit around her family life and give her something to be proud of – so it seemed only right to open a baby and toddler group in Reed.
In a touching tribute to the memory of her son who was stillborn at 27 weeks, Laura named the group Jack and Jill’s Baby and Toddler Group so that baby Jack’s name could live on.
She says: “I live in a wonderful village and am surrounded by a lovely family-orientated community, so it seemed an ideal place to open up my first group.
“Everyone has been so supportive. We have been so lucky, the parents and carers that come to group are all lovely and friendly, they all talk to each other and know each other’s children’s names.
“There are no cliques which I pride myself on, and if I see a newbie on their own, I don’t hesitate to make them a cup of tea and have a chat.
“We all know how daunting baby and toddler groups can be so I am really proud of Jack and Jill’s.
“I also run a chocolate tombola at several of the local village fetes throughout the year, to promote my group but also to raise money for the stillbirth charity, Sands.
“When we suffered the tragedy of our baby boy, Jack, being stillborn, the charity was very supportive – so this is our chance to give a little back.”
The groups runs on a Tuesday morning, 9.30am to 11.30am, and is open during school holidays. You can find them at Reed Village Hall, Blacksmiths Lane, Reed,just off the A10 between Royston and Buntingford, turning opposite the Silver Ball cafe.
The next event raising money for Sands will be a children’s table top sale at Coombes Community Centre in Burns Road, Royston, on Saturday, July 2, between 10.30am and 1pm.
Tables are £10 or £12.50 with a clothing rail provided. £1 entry for grown ups, children go free. Refreshments are available, donated by Royston Tesco.
Check out the Facebook page to keep up to date with news and information at www.facebook.com/jackandjillsgroupreed.
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