MP delight at Sure Start funding

GRAHAM STUART, MP for Beverley and Holderness, has expressed his delight that Sure Start Centres will continue to be funded in the East Riding. HU12 had previously approached the MP with concerns put forward by the Daycare Trust that up to 250 centres might close within a year.

Graham Stuart, MP said:

“As soon as I was made aware of the Daycare Trust research by HU12.net I wrote to the East Riding of Yorkshire Council to find out if the Sure Start Centre in Hedon, and those across the rest of the council area, would continue to be funded. I am delighted they will be. Too many children don’t get the right start in life and turn up at school unable to learn and, in some cases, unable to say their own names. Sure Start centres are an important initiative to help support parents and give children the attention, stimulus and comprehension skills they need to thrive."

On the cuts taking place elsewhere, the MP said:

“I hope that all our centres continue but, nationwide, they need to become more effective and ensure that they reach the most vulnerable children and make a difference to them. Given the vandalised state of the public finances no service is sacred if it can’t prove its worth. The government has given enough money to councils to keep all Sure Starts open but the centres need to show that they are worth it or councils will rightly consider moving the spending elsewhere."

See: No cuts to Holderness Sure Start Centres

Read more...

No cuts to Holderness Sure Start Centres

SPENDING ON "SURE START" CHILDREN'S CENTRES in Holderness, which aim to give children from birth to 5-years old the "best possible start in life", is expected to increase during the next financial year. This is welcome news considering that elsewhere in the country there are fears that up to 250 centres may close within one year and 3,100 centres will have a reduced budget.

The East Riding Council has confirmed via a Freedom of Information request that the proposed budget for Holderness children's centres for 2011-2012 is £551,518. This represents a small increase in spending of just over £88,000 on last year's expenditure. This figure includes spending on all operational costs (premises, service delivery and advice) in Holderness which includes centres in Hedon, Withernsea and an outreach in Patrington.

The council has said that its proposed budgets are only preliminary but there will be an increase to the East Riding children's centre budget and there will be some new posts established and recruitment in 2011-2012.

The issue of Sure Start funding was a controversial issue during last years general election campaign in the Beverley and Holderness constituency, see Beverley Hustings - Sure Start Row.

See the Freedom of Information request and response on WhatDoTheyKnow - Funding for Sure Start Centres in Holderness.

Read more...