TODAY we are launching a campaign to save Swindon’s much-loved children’s centres which are currently under threat of severe funding cuts and possible closure.

A consultation by Swindon Council sets out plans to reshape funding for its 14 centres in the borough, which is running until next Friday.

Under the proposals, a number of centres will have to close and others will be left with minimal funding compared to their current amount. This will leave thousands of families, many of them vulnerable, without access to a nearby centre.

It is planned to merge Moredon, Greenmeadow, Gorse Hill, Drove, Penhill and Pinehurst children’s centre into one provider - possibly forcing four buildings to close.

Since the news broke, many families have spoken out about the lifeline centre’s provide.

Mum of four Amelia Prior, who lives opposite Green-meadow Children’s Centre in Severn Avenue, said she has used the centre since her youngest son Ashton, now one, was just eight weeks old.

There are many benefits Ashton has gained from attending the service, but Mrs Prior said it has been really useful for her as well since moving from Essex last year.

“It’s absolutely fabulous,” said the 39-year-old. “I was new to the area, when I moved here I had no one. If I didn’t go to this centre I would have had no support. It’s been a real lifeline for me. They always provide help and it was great for building up a friendship group.”

In her home town in Essex there was not a similar centre. She said the contrast between her older children, who did not go to an under five school, and Ashton who did, is clear for everyone to see.

“You can really see the difference between Ashton at one, compared to his older brothers,” said Mrs Prior. “He has a lot better social skills.”

Among the many facilities Mrs Prior uses at the centre, she said the health visitor was a real bonus.

“The staff are fabulous, access to the health visitor makes a huge difference,” she said. “Some of these children now might not be classed as vulnerable but if they don’t have access to these facilities then they could become vulnerable in the future. It will end up costing the council more.”

Among the sessions run at the centre are Stay and Play, which prepares youngsters for school, and Time to Rhyme, which encourages children to sing and play instruments.

There are antenatal question and answer sessions for expectant parents and a Baby and Me group for parents of children aged under one. Other services include speech therapy classes and a child health clinic The council has to make savings of £390,000 to its 2014 /15 children’s centre’s budget.

The consultation states resources have increasingly not matched local demand, with the busiest children’s centre – Butterflies at Abbey Meads Primary School – receiving only the fourth lowest level of funding, despite providing services to 1,000 more children than the second-busiest centre.

People can sign our petition at the Adver office or at newsagents Comment or read background at www.swindon.gov.uk /childrenscentreconsultation.

Download a copy of the CHILDRENS CENTRE PETITION.pdf

 

FAMILY HUBS FACING COUNCIL CUTS

These are Swindon’s 14 children’s centres with information on how many children use the service and the number of under fives who are deemed as vulnerable. Under plans marked out in the consultation the council proposes to cut funding for 90 per cent of youngsters who are not classified as vulnerable.

  • Butterflies, based at Abbey Meads Primary School, has 2, 676 children attending its service of which number 340 are classed as vulnerable
  • Saltway, run by Children’s Society, has 949 kids using the centre, of which 184 are viewed as vulnerable
  • West Swindon, hosted by West Swindon Family Centre, has 855 youngsters attending it, of which 284 are deemed as vulnerable
  • Robert Le Kyng, run by Children’s Society, has 819 kids using the centre of which 211 are classified as vulnerable
  • Croft, run by Children’s Society, has, 1,504 under fives using it, of which 222 are viewed as vulnerable
  • Goddard Park, based at Goddard Park Academy, has 1,033 using it of which 516 are deemed as vulnerable.
  • Eldene, run by Children’s Society, has 865 kids using its service of which 184 are classified as vulnerable
  • Saplings, based at Grange Infant School, has 1,035 children using its service of which 213 are deemed as vulnerable
  • Ladybird, based at Westrop Primary School, has 485 using its service of which 72 are classified as vulnerable
  • SureStart Penhill, based at SureSrart Children’s Centre, has 964 children using it, of which 577 are viewed as vulnerable
  • Gorse Hill, based at Gorse Hill Academy, has 1,329 under fives using it, of which 267 are deemed vulnerable
  • Drove, run by White Horse Federation, has 1,156 children using it, of which 215 are classified as vulnerable
  • Moredon, run by White Horse Federation, has 705 youngsters using it of which 209 are deemed as vulnerable
  • Greenmeadow, based at Greenmeadow Primary School, has 262 children using it, of which 49 are classified as vulnerable.