Funding cut for 2,300 children's centres
Jess Brown
Monday, October 19, 2015
Nearly two thirds of children's centres in England have had their budget cut this year and 130 are at risk of closure, a study has found.
An annual survey of children's centres conducted by children's charity 4Children found that of 1,000 centres questioned, 64 per cent have had their budgets cut in this financial year.
Extrapolated across all 3,000 children's centres in England, the findings indicate that more than 2,300 centres have had their budget reduced in the current financial year.
More than half of respondents who have experienced a budget cut (57 per cent), said it will mean reductions to frontline services. This extrapolates to 1,270 sites across England.
The study found that approximately 130 children’s centre sites are currently at risk of closure or of their building ceasing to operate as a children’s centre.
Meanwhile 24 per cent of children's centres, equating to around 750 sites, reported high levels of uncertainty around the future of their children’s centre.
It is the fourth consecutive year that a majority of children’s centres have reported budget cuts to 4Children’s Children's Centre Census 2015.
It also highlights a trend towards children’s centres targeting their services towards families with the highest need. 4Children said this trend may limit children’s centres’ ability to adopt an early intervention approach.
This could also led to further costs in the future, such as long-term unemployment, domestic violence and mental health issues, the report adds.
Imelda Redmond, chief executive of 4Children, said the cuts are a "a real cause for concern".
“Our census shows that cuts are directly impacting on children’s centres’ abilities to reach out and support families," she said.
"The trend towards targeting services on the most vulnerable risks missing those families who we would otherwise only see through universal services.
“I hope this census provides the wake-up call that is needed to turn the tide and encourage investment in both targeted support and universal services so that all families can find the help they need."
Last month it emerged that overall funding for children’s centres has dropped by £125.6m this year.
