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Original poster

About children and family centres

50 replies

Trimummy3 · 14/08/2019 06:51

We have several children and family centres round my way. They are I think run by council with some nhs involvement.

Finding has been cut over years so services like weigh in for your baby happens at fewer of them now.

Having my second kid, I’ve really noticed how crap they have become.

It’s summer holiday, we are bored (none of my kids go to school yet) so thought I would pop to one for a play. There was literally nothing to do! The play room was shut to public and it’s slways like that apart from a dedicated 3 hours a week when you can play as part of a session.

They offer a few sessions that I can’t go to... one for childminders, one for older kids, one for weaning mums (I’ve done that now). There is just one breastfeeding session a week, not enough in my opinion.

I just don’t get why there’s several buildings in my town that are filled with nice toys, have great play equipment outside. That I cannot access for free play. They pay some lady on reception to tell me that the centre is open but there’s nothing to do until the “learning thru play” session on Friday.

I’m my opinion the funded centres should be open each morning for free play, access to the garden, chat with other mums...

We have problems in this country with low rates of breastfeeding, childhood obesity, post natal depression...

I believe if the service from these places was better, it would help to tackle the issues above.

We went home and watched tv on a rainy morning instead. Of course the few sessions that were on this week are cancelled anyway because it’s the summer holidays. I don’t agree with that either.

OP posts:
Groovee · 14/08/2019 06:58

If funding has been cut then it's likely they don't have money to pay staff to run the sessions.

DDiva · 14/08/2019 07:01

Its such a shame but the funding situation is a nightmare. I am part of a group of local volunteer parents who run low cost activities in the holidays when alot of clubs and groups are shut. We are suppotred by the children's centre but run independently. We have been very successful with funding for a few years. Our issue is we cannot get volunteers to help organise and run the activities, children centre staff available even if we paid are limited.

SquatBetty · 14/08/2019 07:03

Funding has been cut massively to all the children's centres. Because big this most of the ones in my local area have closed/will be closing which is a terrible shame.

So it's not the service that's the problem, it's the funding cuts.

SquatBetty · 14/08/2019 07:04

*of this

notsohippychick · 14/08/2019 07:04

Many of ours in Norfolk have been shut. It’s awful. Another way to penalise the most needy and vulnerable. They were a lifeline for some of the families around here.

Choice4567 · 14/08/2019 07:05

Funding has been cut so much that the 2 near me are shut completely. I gave up going or trying to find out when they were open because it was too tricky

Barbarafromblackpool · 14/08/2019 07:08

YANBU
The cuts to these places was outrageous. I taught for years in am area that relied on these centres and sure start. Gone now.

Sirzy · 14/08/2019 07:10

With funding cuts though having things open just for free play doesn’t work as that still costs someone.

We had lots of children’s centres offering lots. People just didn’t use them so things got cut. Meant less was available so even less people used them.

Reducing the number of children’s centres locally actually helped as they could focus more on the people that they needed to with the resources without trying to keep underused buildings going

PotteringAlong · 14/08/2019 07:11

Maybe you could volunteer to run a session?

MrsGrannyWeatherwax · 14/08/2019 07:11

Our local one is only open one day a week with lovely play equipment- it’s unsupervised so I really wish they’d just unlock it more.

Original poster
Trimummy3 · 14/08/2019 07:11

I would be happy to pay to access the service. A few quid each time I enter would be fine for our family. I understand not everyone can pay but I’d be happy to.

It seems crazy to have this building sat there full of expensive toys and lovely sensory equipment, arts stuff, garden equipment etc and it’s shut to public 90% of time. I’m not asking anyone to lead a singing session or tell me about weaning... I just want a little play with some of the stuff.

OP posts:
Rainatnight · 14/08/2019 07:13

The people to blame are anyone who voted Tory, thereby voting for massive cuts in local authority funding, necessitating these sorts of cutbacks.

Original poster
Trimummy3 · 14/08/2019 07:13

I already volunteer at my local youth club. A much needed service for the young people in my village. Each Friday we have up to 60 kids come. I’m not sure I can spare any extra time.

OP posts:
gobbyone · 14/08/2019 07:15

@Rainatnight

Yep.

We voted for a Tory government. This is what we get.

IntoValhalla · 14/08/2019 07:16

Ours is open 5 days a week 9-5, but they only run one play session a week, and only during term time which is understandably rammed because everyone goes to it!
Like you describe, they have 2 play rooms with an impressive amount of toys/activities and a lovely garden with outdoor toys, but there’s only one opportunity per week for children to actually use all that stuff. And now it’s the summer holidays, it’s all sitting there totally unused!
I have to go there for my midwife appointments, and there’s usually just the lady on reception and the midwife there - the rest of the whole place is completely dead Confused
The funding cuts were absolutely dismal from what I understand, so my guess would be that they simply don’t have the staff available to run more play sessions etc

Raver84 · 14/08/2019 07:17

There were loads here all now close apart from like you say the occasional baby weigh or play session. It is a waste or resource but they don't have staff to run the groups. Have you looked into church run baby and toddler groups locally they often run term time so not great now, don't have to be religious to go. They are always welcoming. I've 4 children and been to many of these over the years. Have you tried your library for free indoor events?

Nat6999 · 14/08/2019 07:18

Funding for family centres & Sure Start has been cut by the Conservative Government. We had a lovely Children's centre near my ds's primary school, they ran breakfast & after school clubs, holiday club, mum's groups, ante natal drop ins, teenage mums groups, cookery lessons, had a large play area & gardens. It is now shut down & the site is up for sale with planning permission for housing despite a 10,000 name petition to keep it open. Nothing has been put in place to replace any of the services that have been lost, it really sums up the way this country is going now, cutting down essential services.

nogooddeedgoesunpunished · 14/08/2019 07:18

www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/jun/16/sure-start-numbers-plummet-as-cuts-hit-childrens-services

This is the reality of cuts to services.

Barbarafromblackpool · 14/08/2019 07:20

I watched a programme on C4 about Gordon Ramsey's son. He went to 'live his father's life' which was on an estate in Oxford. After Gordon's family break up Gordon and his sister received a council flat to rent and he had the support of a local youth club. These factors allowed him to work towards his goal of becoming a chef. Gordon's son Jack was shadowing a young man who was sofa surfing/camping in a park due to their being no such support networks in place now. I thought it was a sad state of affairs that we've effectively regressed as a society.

Barbarafromblackpool · 14/08/2019 07:22

And yes Nat9666, a very good summery of what's been lost.

Sockwomble · 14/08/2019 07:22

They will have to pay staff to run the session.
A lot of volunteers who support the sessions may not be available in school holidays.
The rooms may be used for sessions that the general public don't know about. One local to me is used several times a week in school holidays by groups for much older disabled children and this is not on their timetable because it is a private session run by non childrens centre staff.

Loopytiles · 14/08/2019 07:23

Tory austerity.

We have a lovely, new youth centre building, part of a leisure centre rebuild. Never open, presumably due to there being no funds for staffing.

Even worse, vital services for DC with additional needs and their families have been cut back or lost.

tmh88 · 14/08/2019 07:24

It’s a shame my local one is only open for an hour and a half group a week or adult learning. It has lovely resources but to be honest they try to cram too much in to that hour and a half which I completely understand as they can’t do it elsewhere but it makes it too hectic to enjoy, they do messy play, baby dance, story and rhyme, snack time and outdoor play all in that 1 hr 1/2 so you feel like you can’t just sit down for 1 minute and chat.. I don’t often go but when I do it’s never really busy either so I don’t know how they manage to keep it running when there is 4 or 5 turn up paying £1.

OtraCosaMariposa · 14/08/2019 07:28

Unfortunately they can't just open the doors and let people crack on. They need staff.

EssentialHummus · 14/08/2019 07:28

It's very sad - SureStart was afaik a strong success for early interventions and family support, and I am very sad to see it in its current state.