Union's petition demands children's centres consultation
Neil Puffett
Wednesday, July 6, 2016
A union has started a petition calling on government to launch a consultation into the future of children's centres that was supposed to get under way in autumn 2015.
The government has previously said that a consultation on the future of children's centres will launch this summer, as part of its life chances strategy.
But there are concerns that publication of the life chances strategy has been shelved in the wake of the EU referendum and subsequent resignation of Prime Minister David Cameron.
The petition, started by Hilda Tavolara, project co-ordinator at the GMB, calls on government to begin an urgent consultation on the future of Sure Start centres. The petition will run for six months until 3 December.
Colin Greer, GMB regional organiser, said: "The UK government needs to recognise the great work that sure start children's centres do to give children the best possible start in life.
"It's time these brutal budget cuts were reversed to make sure we're there for the people who need help the most.
"GMB supports this petition for consultation on Sure Start centres to ensure our children's futures are protected."
The Department for Education revealed in April that more than 1,000 children's centres have either been closed or downgraded since 2010. This followed figures gathered by CYP Now that showed an additional 400 children's centres were at risk from cuts or closures this year.
