They will be presenting a petition to H&F council (1,500 signatures and counting) to save local children’s centres. The rally is from 4.00 to 5.30pm on Wednesday 30 March at Hammersmith Town Hall, King Street, London W6.
Ten children’s centres in Hammersmith & Fulham have had their budgets slashed by up to 95%. The £19,000 a year they have been left with does not keep a centre open as the council claims.
Hammersmith & Fulham Parents Unite say:
- We represent thousands of families from across the Borough that will be dramatically affected by the proposed cuts to Children’s Centres.
- We are strongly against 'Spoke & Hub' model and the restructuring of Early Intervention Services in Hammersmith & Fulham. £19,000 does not keep a centre open.
- Experienced, qualified staff, educated in Early Years, are vital to each centre, and must be kept. Parents are happy to volunteer only in properly staffed centres. And childminder Network Co-ordinators within children’s centres should be maintained as local community contact is vital.
- We would propose an alternate 15-20% cut to be applied equally to each centre, to be managed by each individual centre. Centres should be enabled to apply for additional, non-statutory funding.
- Whilst we understand the need for some cuts, the present children's centre model has been wholeheartedly endorsed by the parental responses to our consultations.
- Save Our Children’s Centres!
For more information, see Facebook page: Hammersmith & Fulham Parents Unite and www.savewendellparkcc.blog.co.uk.
Hammersmith & Fulham Parents Unite represent the children and parents and carers of 5,000 families from across the borough that attend local children’s centres at Cathnor Park, Melcome, Rouzanna, Shepherd’s Bush Families Project and Wendell Park.
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