CYP Now - Integrated centres: Reassurance over Welsh set-up cash

There will be enough cash to develop and support integrated centres despite sustainability fears as funding is channelled through local authorities, the Welsh Assembly Government said last week.

A report on the first few years of the centres by the Institute of WelshAffairs found centres had made a real difference to families, but alsouncovered concern about future funding (Children Now, 15-21 March).

The Welsh Assembly Government's Cymorth fund is currently the centres'main source of cash but in future this will be channelled through localcouncils, and centres say there is no guarantee they will get the moneythey need.

But the Welsh Assembly Government told Children Now that its plan toincrease local authority Cymorth funding by 11m a year in 2006/07should allay concerns. A spokesman said the Government expected toexceed its targets for centres with 23 already open and 14 more due toopen in the next six months.

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