Bid to save ‘vital’ children’s centres in Swindon

Dozens of concerned parents joined Mrs Snelgrove at Drove Children’s Centre yesterday to make a stand against the £390,000 cut to the centres.

They say the slash to funding will mean thousands of families, some of them very vulnerable, will lose access to centres altogether.

Swindon Council is running a six week consultation, until August 16, designed to take ‘a fresh look’ at the 14 children’s centres in the town. It wants to channel cash towards the most vulnerable.

Council leader Coun David Renard said: “The way we currently provide the service is not sustainable, and no longer in the best interests of particularly vulnerable children in meeting their needs.”

However, Mrs Snelgrove argued the figures in the consultation were too ‘drastic’ and meant many families would be left isolated.

“If you look at Drove, situated in one of the most deprived area’s in town, currently 1,156 children use this service, but according to the council only 215 are vulnerable,” she said.

“I have to question what is their (council) definition because I know there are more vulnerable children than that. These are drastic cuts to places.”

Wendy Cutter, 34, whose eight-month-old son James attends Drove Children’s Centre, has started a petition against the changes.

“It’s vital for kids to play together,” said Mrs Cutter, of Haydon End. “Lots of people who come here are socially isolated. Without the support of trained staff and other parents, small problems can feel like big ones and big ones could go unnoticed.”

Katie Saunders, 21, of Toothill, whose daughter Leah, five, also plays at the Drove centre said: “I’m so thankful for the help they have given me.

“It’s not just for the kids, but I have made friends and built my confidence up as well as Leah.”

Mrs Snelgrove plans to set up a a Swindon Commission for Early Years, which will report alternative solutions in the autumn.

Visit www.swindon.gov.uk/childrenscentreconsultation for deatils about the consultation.