A number of the clubs had faced closure. But Alton Buckle Out of Schools Club Ltd, which previously ran the clubs, has been working with 4Children and the schools partnership since October to address sustainability challenges, with support from Hampshire County Council.
Education Secretary Michael Gove said last month that he wanted to see school days run from 7.30am to 5.30pm and schools open on Saturdays. While not compulsory, it sent a clear signal that out-of-school activities are very much a part of this government's vision for young people. But with councils strapped for cash, local authorities and schools will be looking for arrangements that offer sustainable solutions where the future of such services is uncertain.
4Children took over the management of each of the clubs on 1 March, but the wider community continues to play a proactive role in the development of the service. The schools partnership committee represents the interests of each of the seven schools that host the clubs and of those families accessing the facilities. The committee works alongside 4Children to ensure services cater to local needs. We hope to see similar models emerge across the country that engage communities in getting behind out-of-school activities and the potential they offer to help children and their families to flourish.
