GRANDPARENTS have backed the Save Our Centres campaign as they would have loved to have had them when they were younger.

Residents who never had the use of children’s centres in Brighton and Hove have contacted The Argus to pledge their backing to the campaign.

They oppose Brighton and Hove City Council’s proposals to cut back on children’s centres and related services in a bid to save nearly £800,000 in the 2015/16 budget.

Great grandmother Pat Arrend, 73, of Moulsecoomb, said: “Some members of my own family will be greatly affected if this proposal goes ahead. Why does the council think our children are so unimportant that they can be dumped on without a care or thought of how this will affect their young lives.

“It needs to be said that most young families don’t have the luxury of a garden or yard to play in. “They are for the most part stuck in front of a television when they need to be mixing with other children and learning to mix and share.

“This experience is invaluable and makes for better behaved children, which is priceless.

“I understand they have to make cuts so why don’t they start in their own area instead of penalising the young who, after all, are our future.

“I hope they see sense and forget the whole idea, let our kids keep their centres and any other services that are beneficial to them and preserve their future.”

And former teacher Becky Morris, 93, of Brighton, has an autistic grandchild and said they are a valuable resource which would have helped other people she grew up with.

She said: “Children are really important and they don’t have the opportunities I had. When I grew up it was safe to play in the street. They need to go out more instead of sitting in front of the computer. They need the chance to play with friends and take part in more constructive activities.”

Pauline Carrington, 66, said the centres helped families as they went through various stages of growing up. She said: “I would have benefited from a children’s centre when I was growing up.”

Pinaki Ghoshal, the council’s executive director of children’s services, said: “The proposals are part of a drive to focus council resources on services that will deliver the best outcomes for those families who need most help.”

He said the council wants to increase the number of voluntary parent-led groups in the centres.

Why The Argus is fighting these cuts

COUNCIL officers are looking to hack back the number of children’s centres from 12 to eight in a bid to save £779,000 in the 2015/16 financial year. The venues and related services cost £2,471,000 but the council wants to run them for £1,692,000.

The council says the proposals need to be considered in the context of severe cuts in the budget from the government. If approved, tens of thousands of families would be affected.

The plans include:

  • Cutting the number of main centres from 12 to eight, by merging four. The centres at risk are City View Children's Centre in Elm Grove, Cornerstone Children's Centre in Church Road, the Hollingbury and Patcham site in County Oak Avenue, and West Hove centre in Portland Road. City View and Cornerstone could be merged into Tarner Children's Centre in Ivory Place. The Hollingbury and Patcham site could be merged into the Hollingdean centre in Brentwood Road.
    The West Hove centre could merge into Conway Court in Clarendon Road. Although the council insists the buildings would not be sold off and health services would still be available from them, their legal status as children’s centres and the range of services available there would reduce, seeing them effectively close.
  • Baby groups which meet each week in Moulsecoomb, Whitehawk, Coldean, Woodingdean and Rottingdean libraries, and in the Meadowview Community Centre, could be axed. The libraries themselves are not under threat.
  • Early-years visitors, receptionists and service support managers are under consultation and the equivalent of 11.5 full-time posts could be axed.
  • Funding to both voluntary groups the Early Childhood Project and the Brighton Unemployed Centre could be halved.
  • The City View and Cornerstone advisory groups could merge into one at the Tarner centre, and the Hollingbury and Patcham group could be combined with the one at Hollingdean.
  • The current 30 baby and toddler Stay and Play groups across the city could be slashed to 20.
  • Drop-in baby and toddler groups, which are open to everyone, could be time limited, with appointments introduced.
  • Parents with babies would only be able to attend an eight-week course and children under two may only be able to attend for a term.

Support the campaign – The Argus needs you

  • Pledge your backing of the campaign by contacting senior reporter Flora Thompson at The Argus to express your views on 01273 544539 or email flora.thompson@theargus.co.uk.
  • Sign the change.org petition 'Stop the proposed cuts to children's services' online set up by parent group the Brighton Children's Centres Campaign by clicking here
  • Or sign in person at the Brighton People's Assembly Against Austerity group stall by the clock tower on the corner of West Street and North Street, on Saturday from 11am to 1pm. 
  • Join the parents in a peaceful protest on Thursday, February 26, ahead of Brighton and Hove City Council's budget meeting at 4.30pm where the future of the children's centres and related services will be determined. The meeting takes place in Brighton Town Hall, Bartholomew Square, Brighton.