CYP Now - Children's centres: Co-operative plans promise stability

Creating co-operative children's centres could combat fears about a lack of long-term funding and community involvement, an organisation that supports co-operative childcare enterprises said this week.

Co-operative Childcare is in the process of developing a model forchildren's centres, which could see parents, staff and other members ofthe community sit on a management committee alongside local authorityrepresentatives. Angela Gibbons, project co-ordinator at Co-operativeChildcare, said if profits were poured back into a centre, prices couldbe kept low and staff wages fair.

Genuine community involvement meant a setting could respond better tolocal needs and quickly to change, she added.

Gibbons has already handled enquires about the model from children'sinformation services, early years development and childcarepartnerships, and from extended schools managers.

She has also had interest from local authorities.

- www.cooperatives-uk.coop/childcare.

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