Children's centres lobby group 'closed', claims former chair

Conservative MP Fiona Bruce, who became chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group (APPG) on Sure Start Children's Centres in 2015, told CYP Now she had stepped down as chair and the group had closed following the recent demise of charity 4Children, which acted as the secretariat for the APPG.

"I regret it has closed," said Bruce, adding that she had only agreed to chair the group for one year.

The group set out to champion the good work of children's centres; to identify and share good practice; and to consider and inform policy development on key issues.

But it has not held a meeting since July 2015.

Over the past year, hundreds of children's centres have closed, while many more have had funding, staff and services cut. Meanwhile, a government consultation on the future of children's centres is yet to be published a year after it was pledged by former minister Sam Gyimah.

However, Labour MP Sharon Hodgson, APPG vice-chair, said Bruce's departure did not spell the end of the group - instead, she hopes it will restart work once a new chair and host organisation is found.

"I would like to thank Fiona for all her hard work as chair," Hodgson said.

"As chair she led the way on issues affecting children's centres and Sure Start and has invested a huge amount of work, most recently into the creation of our report: Family Hubs: The Future of Children's Centres. As this report demonstrated there is still more to be done and we are by no means finished yet.

"I am committed to staying on as vice-chair to ensure a smooth transition once we have found a new chair and secretariat and I look forward to the continuation and successful future of the group."

Earlier this year, a CYP Now investigation found that at least 400 children's centres across England are at risk as a result of proposals outlined during the 2015/16 financial year.

Michael Pavey, director of campaign group Labour Friends of Sure Start, said the demise of the APPG would be "a great shame".

"Children's centres desperately need allies from across the political spectrum," he said.

"With brutal government cuts continuing year after year, it is critically important that MPs from all parties continue to highlight the vital work of our children's centres."

Chloe Hardy, head of campaigns and public affairs at Action for Children, added: "We see every day the vital role children's centres play in supporting children and families in communities across the country.

"We will continue working with parliamentarians to do what's best for children and are still keenly awaiting the consultation providing the government's vision for children's centres."

4Children closed in August due to funding pressures, with dozens of its children's centres and around 1,000 staff being transferred to Action for Children, Barnardo's and local authorities.