Parents move to force rethink on Children's Centre cuts

CONCERNED parents gathered to voice their fears about Warwickshire County Council's proposed cuts to children's centres.

They believe services should be open to all for the first year of a child's life, regardless of social background, and feel the options being considered do not achieve this.

Sarah Windrum, who organised the protest outside Shire Hall in Warwick on Tuesday, said: "Particularly for the first year, I struggled as a new mom. To say that children's services were a lifeline to me isn’t an overstatement. I want to make sure every parent has the same opportunity as I did.

"We are here to make sure councillors realise we want to keep it universal. Keeping the centres open for all in the first year is crucial."

Children's centres deliver a range of services including support groups, advice sessions and early education.

We reported last week how a public consultation on the council's proposed changes had begun and would run until August 27. A decision will then be made on the future of Warwickshire’s 39 centres.

The council is looking to save £2.3million from its early years budget and it could involve the closure of six centres including the one in Dunchurch.

Coun Heather Timms, council children, young people and families spokeswoman, defended the proposals.

She added: “We have to rethink how we work and prioritise our more vulnerable families, so will be reviewing the way we provide children’s centre services and considering a wider early years offer to holistically promote school readiness and reduce the local impact of savings."

Those who gathered outside Shire Hall, however, said the cuts could be very damaging.

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