The change means the centre is officially owned by its members - parentsfrom the Millmead housing estate - and run for the benefit of thecommunity (Children Now, 17-23 May).
Millmead is only the second children's centre in England to take thisroute after nearby Sure Start Folkestone became a mutual society inautumn 2004. In April it began trading as Millmead Children's CentrePartnership Ltd, with centre manager Frances Rehal as chiefexecutive.
The centre is based around a Sure Start local programme that opened in2000. It was led by Kent County Council's social services andaccountable to Thanet District Council.
The issue of governance - how the centre is run - came up early on, saysRehal. About a year into the programme, managers reviewed differentmodels. But nothing felt right.
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