Sure Start and communty midwife groups being shut down

[mockingbird1]

If Sure Start centres and local childrens centres run by community midwifes are being shut down at the end of March what on earth are new mums going to do and how are they supposed to meet other mums in their areas? I have started going to some local baby groups and they have been a lifeline for me- without these facilities surely the levels of post natal depression will rise, or is this a sympton of decisions being made yet again by men who have never sat in the house day after day with no-one but a small baby to look at... Health visitors are already over stretched and GPs are not intersted in having a chat so it can get pretty lonely as a new mum. Surely I am not alone in being worried about this? Or do the government have an alternative plan that I dont know about- if so can someone fill me in please!

no secret plan from the government.

how about getting together with other parents and setting your own local group up?

at the same time lobby your mp to push for continuation of funding.

Most sure starts are already being phased out. Most are being taken over by other charities like Spurgeons and other than new names above the door they will pretty much carry on as they were.

Why do you think it is the government's responsibility to make you socialise and make friends after having a baby therefore stopping you being depressed?

Churches run baby groups, mumsnetter meet ups, post natal groups and local community play groups will still run - look in the paer or on line.

Mockingbird, why are you suprised about this, "Dave & Gideon" were alaways going to do this.

We don't have Sure Start up here (and it's not Tory in Scotland, that's for sure!) and we all manage just fine...start your own group

Its the community midwife presence that I think will be missed but thanks for the feedback re other social outlets.
I will definitely be in touch with my MP and will start the hunt for local alternatives.
I already thought about church groups but if you are non religious (like me) it would not be my first port of call but I may have to swallow it.

The 4 SureStart centers around where I live provide invaluable services to local families.

Pre-school is of a very good standard - I could not believe it when my little boy knew not only his ABC, numbers but also simple phonic words (in nursery! - not pre-school).

The head was there every morning to welcome the parents dropping the kids; she knew each of us and was always very helpful when I was asking her for advices.

The teachers were brilliant, the facilities (garden, play, books, create) amazing.

Plus they organise some very valuabl courses for those parent who choose to : basic math / english / ICT or more parenting like dealing with challenging behavior / positive authority or even flower arrangment / yoga.

so in short, gives a super start to the kids, empowers the parents who decide to take their life in their hand.

just a shame that it was Ball's flagship so the tories may not want it.

but...i do not know about the cost of those centres / soft performance targets....

That sounds like every other good nursery in the country

Plus they organise some very valuabl courses for those parent who choose to : basic math / english / ICT or more parenting like dealing with challenging behavior / positive authority or even flower arrangment / yoga.

Apart from the flower arranging that all sounds like it needs to be encouraged though.

Is it really the job of the state to provide mums who are lonely with somewhere to go?

Cheaper than giving them anti depressants and better for their children too.

good nuseries, with adequate facilities for play and learn should indeed be encouraged.

easy access to midwife seems a cool idea,maybe OTT.

and if there's a job at the end of it for trained Mum, what coul be better?

surestart is very much about empowering families.

mamatomany...you got the irony about flower arrangment...

What about other people who are lonely, are we going to have state provision for people who have no friends as well?

We have day centers for the elderly who have had 40 years to make friends and have pissed off all their family have none so why not some provision for mums ?
Plenty of these things charge an entrance fee so they cover their own costs and the midwives have to misinform people some how, it's as good a place as any.

You are not alone in being concerned about this. I am deeply worried. Many, many families are surviving on the support they receive from Sure start. For many , if this goes, they will end up with social care involvement and all the stress that goes with that.

If they cover their costs why do they require subsidy?

Some need a subsidy and some don't.

did you work for surestart mamatomany

Surestart is a nice idea but with our current situation is unaffordable. If they charge for some services could they not increase prices or would that make them uncompetitive.

I think it is terrible news. It has been shown that intervention in the early years (i.e surestart territory) is paid back a thousand times in lower rates of offending, better schooling and employment prospects etc.

There was an article very recently, I'll try and find it.

FCUK no, you could never meet a less inclined person to work for the likes of sure start, I accidentally found myself volunteering for home start and stayed a week.

For example look here

Mylife, that's not research.That's a general news report on something a Labour MP (natch) is recommending.

Peopel managed for years before Sure start came along.
Once you start expecing 'the government' to hold you
r hand at every stage of your life you end up on a very dangerous slippery slope.

well... I'm "yet" - maybe changing - even less inclined towards homestart than sure start....at least surestart provides evident services like education / training wherease homestart seem to provide even less of tangible benefits! and costs a lot

Isn't Homestart run by volunteers though?
I'm all for volunteers.
It's government funding (ie you and me) for everythnig bar arse wiping that gets my goat.