In its latest report, Breaking Barriers, the charity is calling for ministers to pledge no further cuts to the Early Intervention Grant, which pays for centres. The charity also wants to see children’s centre money ringfenced.
By 2015, the Early Intervention Grant will be £1.5bn, half the money available in 2010. Previous research has showed that hundreds of children's centres have had to close over the past three years, while others have had to start charging for services due to cuts in their grant levels.
The report includes a survey of 170 parents who live in areas of deprivation and found that many are already struggling to access support.
One in four said they found it difficult to access their local children’s centre. A common response was that centres were not within “pram-pushing” distance. A third said they faced travel costs to reach a centre, which was a particular barrier for poor families in rural areas.
Those who do not speak English as a first language are the group least likely to access services. Of those interviewed, 87 per cent were not aware of their local children’s centre services.
Staff said providing support in different languages was difficult due to the cost involved.
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