to write to my MP about loss of Children's Centre services

[waitingforwombat]

I've just heard from my local children's centre that from September there will be no "universal services" - ie drop in stay and play sessions/music sessions/story sessions etc. Instead all groups will be "invite only" to families in their "target demographic" (ie English not first language, non working families, PND etc).

I'm gutted. I would definitely not have fitted into a "target demographic" - I'm a mc professional. But I found my year of maternity leave so so hard and the childrens centre was a complete lifeline. Like many young professionals I completely lost my support group when I stopped working, I struggled with the loss of control/identity/status, I live in a fairly isolated location, and my family all live over 2 hrs away. The children's centre was a haven for me - other mums to talk to and get to know (who have since become good friends), breastfeeding advice, great support from the staff, ideas for play with my baby etc etc. It would be such a loss to not have that input.

I'm also concerned that this move with really stigmatise use of the children's centres/mean that many families who may be eligible will never come into contact with the centre.

Before I get flamed for being entitled, I have done a significant amount of volunteering for the children's centre (but the details of this would completely out me!!)

AIBU to be really upset about this, and fire off letters/petition to MP/Childrens Centres HQ??

Yanbu

This is exactly why children's services should be accessible to all, with targeted interventions by HVs to get those who need it to come along too.

However the excuse of austerity means it doesn't happen and those that can use it become stigmatised.

If there's enough money for the banks there's enough for our children.

Our local one was going this way few years ago. What makes it worse is that the alternative local playgroups and pre-school that ran groups had closed over time as more and more parents had gone to the children's center but weren't re-opening.

The staff weren't in favour of the changes - but their funding was increasingly dictating it apparently.

YANBU - but I don't think the MP or councillors locally were very interested hopefully you'll have better luck.

Did the council not hold consultations about the future of children's centres as ours did then? All service users were informed that the services would need to be cut back. Feedback forms and online surveys were available for us to give our input (so what we liked about the centres, what worked well, and suggestions on how to make the cut backs).

If your council offered consultations but you didn't contribute then YABU to now want to have your say.

But if here was no consultation period, you were just told 'this is what's happening' then YANBU.

Yes but there have been cuts across the board and whilst the children's centres were beneficial to many they aren't necessary for most.
being able to support those who need the help has to be their priority and if you are mc you can afford to attend lots of different organisations, talk to others etc.
Your hc professionals are free at your gps for any problems as well.
So against the grain I think YABU and entitled to expect funds to cover all parents.
I do sympathise and know what it is like to live in the stix with no support, it was a 10 mile trip to my nearest baby sessions and gp, so unless I was desperate didn't bother.
You have the children, you need to learn how to cope unfortunately, just as generations before did.

if you are mc you can afford to attend lots of different organisations, talk to others etc

Not if you're unwell and feel shameful so try and hide it.

I wouldn't have fitted into any 'target demographic' for a children's centre, as we are just earning too much as a household to be entitled to benefits, my pnd meant I had no motivation to seek help for it, I wanted to be 'normal' not in a pnd group, I was just too old to be classed as a 'young parent^, but the help, support, advice from my local childrens centre kept me going for dds first year, and I gradually opened up about some of the problems I had and eventually got help through the centre.. Fight for it, fight hard, because people need support!!

I think you should we dont have many childrens centres in scotland which is a shame and I think they should be for all isolation is isolation regardless of class imo write to them see what happens, yes there is a need for families who dont have the funds or means of going to baby groups and they need these placest a mum with pnd or anxiety or whatever shouldnt need to disclose personal details on a form to see if she meets the criteria, funding sucks sometimes

OP, I would say please do it. I work in Children's Centres and I see the difference they make to families every single day. The CCs in my borough are fortunately still offering universal services and are committed to doing so but I know it's just not the case everywhere. Make your voice heard, stand up for your local services. Don't let these services go without a fight.

Morethanpotatoprints - unfortunately being mc doesn't mean we CAN afford to go to other groups - especially as living in a rural area means that not only do you have to pay for the groups, but also be able to afford to run a car plus parking/pay £5 return bus travel. I agree that the most disadvantaged DO need the most help, but I feel that the new system will mean that the less obviously struggling will get lost. And of course if I had been a previous generation I wouldn't have huge amounts of student debt/massive mortgage due to housing boom/lower petrol prices (and infact if I was any generation in my family before me I would still live in the same town as my parents/where I had grown up and have lots of social support.....)

Chronicallyexhausted - no, no consultation at all. I have been a member of the childrens centres parent groups, and all we knew was that the centres were "going out to tender", and then this bombshell was dropped....

Miaow/Beany/Iggly - thank you for your replies. It helps to know that I am not the only one who has felt like this!!

Every parent has something to learn, every parent has questions, every parent has days where they struggle, every parent needs advice on something at some point which is why CC services must remain open to everyone who is a parent, regardless of other factors.

waiting

Yes, this is what it is like for many unfortunately. We have all felt like this at some stage though and its just the way it is.
What makes you think it was so much easier for previous generations.
We have never had it so good. Long maternity leave, tax credits, subsidised childcare. The lower costs you example also came with lower wages oh, and interest rates on mortgage at 15.5%.
As I said of course I sympathise but you get to return to work after a year whereas many can't/ couldn't afford to work if they had nobody to mind their kids.
Its all relative and very easy to be bitter and believe previous generations had it better.

YANBU

The situation in Children's Centres is critical thanks to the cuts. Many have made a huge number of redundancies and are trying to run services on skeleton staff. They are still cutting budgets every year and it's impossible to cover the wide remit of services they are expected to offer and meet targets. They have no choice but to target support to vulnerable families but I totally agree that all parents should have access to support if they need it.

Please do write to your MP. I have and I've also spoken to our local one about it when he was out canvassing last year (he's a Tory so he passed all responsibility for the cuts down to local council - basically didn't give a shit).

I lost my job recently as our team was disbanded when the local CC's budget was cut to the bone. We were always told that CCs were to encourage everyone in as it was good for the "target families" (some of whom needed enormous amounts of help) to
a) feel that they weren't stigmatised by attending the various drop in sessions (which then made them more likely to come along to the invitation only sessons targeted to their own needs),
and b) Other parents were "modelling" good parenting behaviour and talking to parents outside thier own usual friendship groups gave them other and different (and possibly better) ideas about parenting. The idea being that other parents were better role models than "preachy staff".

It's an enormous shame.

I wonder if it would be possible for children's centres to allow other groups to use their facilities for free. So volunteer toddler groups etc could start up or move in, with no hall hire fee and a range of toys already available there would be no need to charge entry (just an optional 50p for a drink and snack maybe). And that would help to keep a range of groups going in the children's centre which will help the vulnerable families as ruby said.

I think it's a shame too. At the start of my maternity leave I went to a couple of different sessions at my children's centre. But looking at what's available now it is mostly invite only.

Though our children's centre has a volunteered run playgroup on a Tuesday morning which as another pp has said might be a way for other children's centre to be utilised by all of the community. Though it's getting volunteers to run and maintain the group.

We as a group of 3 mum's who met at a children's centre 3 years ago, asked if we could set up our own playgroup at a time when the room would be free and we would run it, just to keep it going.
Unbelievably, they agreed and its been going for over 2 years now.
Sometimes it's better to ask and use your own initiative especially if you've already volunteered there before.
It can make such a difference to have a regular group to attend for people who may feel isolated or depressed and there are lots of ways to make it work.
You've got nothing to lose by contacting your MP. Good luck.

Yet another initiative that completely misses the issue and how to resolve it.
Sending invites isn't going to ensure that those the centres are targeting will attend. For a whole heap of other reasons (language barriers, fear of the unfamiliar, lack of knowledge, to name just a few) lots of parents who would benefit enormously from these centres just aren't attending. That won't change just because a leaflet is popped through the door.

All that will happen is that the centres will be empty and the government will then have reason to close them (as they'll appear to not be in use). Perhaps that's the aim though.

HVs or the like need to be empowered and resourced to be regularly knocking on doors, actively seeking out those they are trying to support and backing up those visits with real, practical help where required.

Excluding on the basis of income doesn't make any sense and as others have implied, PND doesn't strike on the basis of your bank balance.