The Welcare Community Project, based in Kilburn, London, says it wasforced to close its Toddledom sessions in September because of lack offunding.
The sessions, which began in 2000, flourished following a lottery grantand expanded to offer a wide range of opportunities including literacysessions, parenting advice and a creche. They won praise from the likesof Labour peer and former Sure Start minister Baroness Ashton. But whenthe lottery money ran out, the charity struggled to keep it going.
Chair of trustees, Grizelda Tyler, said the charity was advised to applyfor Sure Start funding but could only get a limited amount because itwas tied to people living in the nearby Sure Start area. She said "theSure Start effect" was squeezing out many voluntary providers. "Thetraditional funders for under fives believe this is now being cateredfor by Sure Start," she said.
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