Follow us on Facebook

May 3 2011
by Dave Toomer
Wythenshawe parents have demanded a commitment to public funding for Sure Start children centres after Manchester City Council agreed to a 12 week consultation on their future.

Parents and child-care workers from Wythenshawe were among campaigners who released balloons at Piccadilly Gardens in Manchester to raise the profile of their campaign to save the 36 children's centres under threat because of council cuts.

Council leader, Sir Richard Leese has promised the parents the three month consultation after Thursday's local election and say all options will be considered. Meanwhile the centres will remain open.

Options up for grabs include public funding but the council has already said it cannot afford to run the centres on their own and is looking at handing them over to the independent or charity sectors

But campaign leader, Alison Jones, who is a community creche worker in Benchill says the parents will accept nothing less than full public funding for the centres.

She told the Reporter: "We are pleased about the consultation period, but we only be satisfied if money is ring fenced by the council to run the centres. We are sure the money can be found. Money is being spent on a new BMX track and we would question whetther that is needed.

"We know that our Sure Start centres are needed. They are a lifeline for children and parents in the community. We have people coming into our centres who are desperate and homeless.

"A lot of the courses we have provided at the centres have already been cut and jobs have gone. We have put on courses to help parents deal with child behaviour and help build confidence. We are concerned the private sector and charities will not be able to provide these services."

Fellow campaigner Jennifer McCleary from Benchill was at the protest to save her local centre because of the vital role it has played in helping her four-year-old son, Adam, who has speech difficulties.

She said: "I don't know what I would have done without Sure Start. The staff there helped me get hospital appointments and it has been a real lifeline for me. It has also helped me get back into education to help me get back into work."

Sure Start has helped Jennifer sign up for English and other courses to improve skills to boost job prospects at Forum Futures in Wythenshawe.