Sure Start campaign gets boost from Labour's Minister for Children

Parents fighting to save Dover's and Deal's Sure Start Centres from closure were visited by Labour's Sharon Hodgson, the Shadow Minister for Children and Families, yesterday (Thursday, 12 September 2013).

Conservative councillors want to close 23 of Kent's 97 Children's Centres across the county in a move to save £1.5m - Deal's Primrose Children's Centre is one of those that would go, Dover's Buttercup and Daisy Children's Centres would merge and relocate to the town centre.

The hours at 13 other centres across the county would be reduced - the Aycliffe Children's Centre is one that would see its hours fall.

Jo Quail, who lives in St Radigunds, was at yesterday's meeting and she told Sharon Hodgson what the centres mean to her.

Jo said: "I have had Sure Start there to support me with all the challenges I have faced. I felt comfort knowing they are in my community. Knowing Children's Centres will be closing is a huge loss for families that use them every day and don't have the confidence to travel into the town.

"The government doesn't understand what families and children need in poorer areas. It's about time they walk a mile in a single mum's shoes and see how things would change."

After the meeting Sharon Hodgson said she would continue to campaign against the nationwide closures and said the stories she had heard would help her to do that.

Sharon said: "David Cameron promised parents before the election that he backed Sure Start, yet while millionaires enjoy their bumper tax cuts, valued services for families are being lost in Kent and across the country. I hope this campaign forces the Tories to back down."

Kent County council is consulting on the proposal and Clair Hawkins, Labour's General Election candidate in Dover and Deal, is urging all parents to complete the form and to sign the Save Our Sure Start Centres petition.

Clair said: "People need to make it clear what these centres mean to them. Conservative councillors say they will not close any centres in areas of high deprivation but Buttercup and Daisy Sure Start Children's Centres are in two of the most disadvantaged areas of Dover.

"Council budgets are under strain but if savings have to be made, let's cut the millions spent on consultants in Kent rather than taking funding away from our children."