Action for Children wins £5m contract to run children's centres in Norfolk

The service will have a network of 15 bases, offering outreach support across the county and delivering early childhood and family services for families living nearby.

Services will aim to provide targeted support for families with children aged 0-5 and offer help so that families can connect with local support and universal early childhood activities.

There is also a planned investment of £250,000 in community development to ensure there are strong networks of support, as well as more online and digital information, advice and guidance for families.

Norfolk County Council decided to close 38 of its 53 children's centres in January as part of a move away from using centres to directly provide services.

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The axed centres are all scheduled to close before October. However, the council hopes that the majority of the remaining former children's centre sites will continue to be used by children and families services providers - supported by a £500,000 grant fund.

In addition, Norfolk's 47 libraries are extending their year-round offer of bounce and rhyme and stay and chat sessions, which are open to all families

Norfolk's director of children's services Sara Tough said: "I'm confident that Action for Children will make a success of delivering our more targeted, consistent and accessible service, in line with national best practice."

Action for Children is one of 11 providers that currently run children's centres in Norfolk on behalf of the council, being responsible for 25 of the 53 existing sites. 

Action for Children's director of children's services for England South, Emma Horne, added: "We're thrilled to have been chosen to deliver the new service from October, and to be able to continue supporting children and families across Norfolk. 

"We know that services such as these can be a lifeline for families and our work in the 15 new hubs will be delivered in a wide variety of community venues, targeting the areas and families that most need our help." 

Horne added that details of the new structure are still being worked through with the council ahead of the service opening.

Action for Children's contract is worth £5.2m per annum and is part of a wider £65m per annum spend on services for children aged 0-5 by the council.

Last year, the council was criticised by some early years providers who were angry over the way a consultation on the changes was run.  

The council's decision to axe more than two thirds of its children's centres is part of a wider trend across the country.

Wiltshire County Council has just announced that it is halving its children's centres from 12 to six by this autumn, a move that the council anticipates will save it £250,000 per year.

Five of the axed centres will be offered for childcare provision, but the centre in Salisbury will be handed back to the landlord.

The council added that the money saved from the closures would be used to provide more services at local community venues and on frontline staff.