We can keep Acol and Caversham children’s centres open and save £1m, say parents
As facilities face axe due to cuts, mums and dads come up with dramatic plan
Published: 24th March, 2011
by JOSIE HINTON
PARENTS in Kentish Town say they have come up with a plan to save a children’s centre from closure – while saving more than a £1million for Camden Council.
The Caversham Children’s Centre, in Vadnie Bish House, is facing the axe in August, along with 15 staff, as part of a raft of measures to shave 10 per cent off the council’s Early Years budget.
The Acol Children’s Centre in West Hampstead has also been earmarked for closure, meaning a combined loss of 70 places.
Town Hall bosses say they have opted to close the two smallest centres as they are used by the fewest people. Fifteen will stay open, although a “reorganisation” of the existing centres may reduce places available.
But angry parents say there is no need for any of the centres to close – and have devised a business plan of their to keep them open.
The proposal includes making annual savings of £900,000 in council spending and generating an extra income of up to £300,000.
It includes:
- Grouping the centres together into three “hubs” with a shared manager
- Opening premises for community use
- Outsourcing catering
- Charging for drop-ins and courses
- Fund-raising activities and investigating business partnerships
Celina Goodfellow, of Islip Street, whose two-year-old son attends Caversham, said: “If the centre closes I will have to reconsider whether I can continue working. As it is, half of my salary is spent on childcare. The other children’s centres are not an option because the distance means I would not be able to keep my working hours and collect my son. The closure will undoubtedly jeopardise my job.”
Fellow parent Andy Williamson added: “We are determined to save our centre and believe we’ve produced practical solutions that show we can do this and still save money overall.”
A council spokesman said: “We understand how strongly many of our parents and families feel about the reduction to our children’s centres and we appreciate all the hard work and research that has gone into this proposal. Officers continue to look in detail at these and other proposals, and at all the responses being received to the consultation, including a number of meetings with parents at children’s centres. Anyone who would like help and advice in accessing family services in their area should contact the council.”
Other measures being proposed by the Town Hall in a bid to achieve a total saving of £3.2mm include cutting 25 hours of free nursery to 15 hours and a 10 per cent hike in fees.
A final decision will be taken in May.