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Funds poured into new children's service centres
CHILDREN and young adults across Cumbria will soon benefit from millions of pounds worth of new services aimed at providing the support, protection and opportunities they need to reach their full potential.
Next Tuesday (April 1), will mark the start of new contracts awarded to leading organisations by Cumbria County Council (CCC), as part of its strategy to establish children's centres within each community in the region.
Following a national tendering process for £19 million of services, CCC has entrusted the task of setting up new and enhancing existing centres to Barnardo's, the Howgill Family Centre, Milnthorpe Community Playgroup and National Children's Homes.
Kevin Jones, head of service, partnership and prevention at CCC, explained that children's centres were essentially a "one stop shop" for parents aimed at delivering quality early learning, day care, health guidance, family support sessions, a childminder network and many other vital services to 0-19 year olds and their families.
There would also be links with the local Job Centre Plus to support parents or carers who were considering training or employment.
"The main aim is to make sure that all vulnerable children across the county, wherever they live, are able to access the support they need," he added.
The scheme, which is tied into the Government's Every Child Matters Strategy, is divided into three phases, with phase one centres already well established, phase two centres scheduled to begin operation next month and phase three centres which should begin delivering services in April 2009.
The four organisations that have been awarded the contracts will now take over and develop the services previously delivered by the council, Sure Start and the local Primary Care Trust.
A spokeswoman for the NCH explained that the children's charity would be expanding from its current work, within the Furness Family Centre and successful children's centres in Workington and Millom, to provide services in other locations across the county, including Ulverston.
"We would like to take this opportunity to say that we are looking forward to working with current staff, local families and community organisations to shape future services," she said.
Another national children's charity to be awarded a contract is Barnardo's, which will manage a total of 13 centres in locations including Kendal, Sedbergh, Kirkby Lonsdale, Kirkby Stephen, Appleby, Penrith and Carlisle.
Similarly, Mary Salter, manager of Milnthorpe Community Playgroup, described how in the past the children's centre had just catered for people in Milnthorpe, but as of next week the centre would be expanding its reach to cover nearby communities such as Holme, Beetham, Levens and Arnside, as well as setting up a new children's centre in Grange-over-Sands.
Mrs Salter continued: "We will now be raising awareness of what is going on and consulting with families and young people to find out what things they need."
For more information about Every Child Matters visit www.everychildmatters.gov.uk.
8:31am Friday 28th March 2008
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