History of PATCH (Parent & Toddler Care)

PATCH began in Stockton on Tees in 1981 in order to meet the identified needs of parents with young children. Families were able to attend small support groups within their area, where children were offered play activities and parents were encouraged to offer mutual support to each other.

It was quickly discovered that there was a gap in the services provided, and PATCH formed as an organisation and seriously engaged in attracting funding.

We began to offer support to families in their own homes and devised a training course, in order to prepare volunteers for the work they were undertaking.

As the organisation developed and grew, it attracted attention from other areas in Cleveland. PATCH was invited to bid for funding in Hartlepool, through City Challenge. The bid was successful and Hartlepool PATCH came into existence on 1st November 1993.

By September 1999 it was realised that the project had become too large to manage efficiently as one entity and Hartlepool Patch took over the running of its own separate project (with a new charity number) known as Parent and Toddler Care in Hartlepool.

From a small number of parents and their children meeting weekly, PATCH in Hartlepool has expanded to meet the needs of the community, with a growing number of support groups and individual home visits taking place each week. Partnerships have been formed with a number of statutory and volunteer agencies and Government led initiatives.

Hartlepool PATCH has been running successfully since that time.