A NEW partnership has been formed between Swindon Council and national charity 4Children which will see the charity take over the running of five children’s centres across the town.

4Children, which runs approximately 100 children’s centres throughout the country, will take over the centres from May 1. The charity has a strong track record of working in partnership with local authorities, Primary Care Trusts, schools, youth services and the police as well as local community organisations to provide the best possible support for local families through its children’s centres.

The centres will provide local families, with children under the age of five, with a wide range of practical support, information and advice. Priorities will include health and wellbeing services for all children from pre-birth to age five. Centres will also offer services to assist families who are in need of specific support at the earliest opportunity.

Charles Ellis, Deputy Chief Executive of 4Children said: “We are delighted to have been awarded the contract and look forward to forging a partnership with the Local Authority, other agencies and of course the local community to improve the life opportunities of local families.”

The charity provides the secretariat for the All Party Parliamentary Sure Start Group of MPs, publishes an annual Children’s Centre Census and ran the highly successful campaign Shout out for a Sure Start in 2011.

Visit www.4Children.org.uk.