• About Us

About Us

Abingdon Carousel Family Centre is a charity which was set up to run services in the former county council funded South Abingdon Children’s Centre. When OCC withdrew funding, Carousel was incorporated as a charity and has been offering services to local families since 2018.

Carousel offers a variety of recreational, care, educational and adult development services both directly to the public using paid employees and volunteers and through making the building available to community focussed partner organisations. All Carousel activities are free to families although we encourage small donations where these can be afforded.

Service priorities are those which benefit families with children aged 0-5 years although other family and community services are also offered under an umbrella approach that aims to be relevant to the community as a whole. Carousel is an inclusive organisation that aims to reflect the views and needs of our families.

About Us

Specifically, Carousel aims to:

  • Provide a range of facilities and programmes, through the provision of a safe and stimulating space, for children to socialise, learn and play and for parents / carers to receive guidance and support.

  • Support parents / carers in developing skills and strategies for effective parenting.

  • Enable parents / carers to engage in a range of opportunities to meet other families, undertake personal development activities and become active members of the community, so reducing isolation.

  • Provide a community hub from which partner organisations can offer their services.

  • Provide information and signposting so that families can access services across the wider community.

Trustees

About Us
Sharron Jenkinson

Chair

Penny Clover

Vice Chair

Mark Rusher

Treasurer

Ruth Hawkins
Debbie Lymn
Jennifer Reading
About Us
Kathryn Devine

Staff Team

Emily Walsh

Centre Manager

About Us
Mandy Etienne

Assistant Manager
Centre Administrator

Katie Whitear

Assistant Manager
Senior Playworker

About Us
Isabelle Jones

Assistant Manager
Senior Playworker

Kelly Atkinson

Senior Playworker

Kelly Boswell

Playworker

Deb Roberts

Playworker

About Us

History

Abingdon Carousel operates from the former South Abingdon Children’s Centre, which was closed by the County Council in 2016. A passionate community group came together to revive the centre, raising funds and planning a multi-use facility for families with children aged 0-5.

Established as a charity (CIO) in 2017, we found a viable solution by sharing the building with Caldecott School. On August 1st, 2018, we signed the lease and began offering services the following month.