Literacy news
Parents encouraged to oppose closure of Sure Start centres
15 Mar 2011
Parents are being encouraged to form campaign groups to fight the closure of children's centres in their area.
Recent campaigns launched in opposition to council proposals to shut Sure Start centres across the country have received the support of parenting website Netmums, which has posted a guide on how to launch a campaign.
One campaign cited as an example was started by a Netmums member in Stoke-on-Trent who set up a group after discovering that seven of the town’s 16 children’s centres were going to close. After gathering 6,500 signatures to give to the local council ahead of a budget meeting, the authority agreed to take account of the group’s views and has since decided to save the centres from closure.
The Netmums site states:
"We can take a stand and make the powers that be aware of local opposition to children’s centre cuts. We can show that this isn’t a quick and painless money-saving cut.
"Netmums have proved time and time again that the voice of mums together can make a difference. It's vital we stand up and let the decision-makers know how important our children's centres are."
Others that have started campaigns include a group in Hampshire, which has managed to persuade a council to extend its consultation on a planned closure of children’s centres.
Read more at Child and Young People Now
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