Two of the three campaigns fought to save Children's Centre sites in Irlam, Walkden and Lower Broughton are claiming victory this week, after Salford Council initially intended to close them as part of £1milion of cuts.
Back in March, the Salford Star revealed that the Council was proposing to slash over half of the 15 Sure Start Children's Centre sites, leaving just four `hubs' based in six buildings (see here).
Parents and carers of children at three of the sites – Fiddlers Lane in Irlam, St Paul's in Walkden and River View School in Lower Broughton – immediately started campaigns, petitions and meetings to try and influence the Council to change its mind (see here and see here)
The Salford Star understands that over 10,000 Salford people signed online and paper petitions to save the sites, while the results of the consultation on the closures which ran throughout June show just how many people opposed Salford Council's plans.
Out of the 418 direct responses the Council received from the consultation, 86% disagreed with the proposal to reduce the number of Children's Centre buildings.
Respondees included people who use the centres, head teachers and governors of schools (most of which had Children's Centres attached) and those who work in related professional services. The vast majority of responses from all these groups were that they disagreed with the Council's proposals.
After meetings with campaigners the Council caved in to most of the demands…
Irlam and Cadishead will, a Council report states, "continue to have a dedicated space at Fiddlers Lane Primary School to act as office space for Children's Centre staff and as a 'front door' for service users should they require daily access to a Children's Centre".
The areas will also have Children's Centre services at Cadishead Primary School; Irlam Leisure Centre; Irlam and Cadishead Libraries; Hamilton Davis House; and the Fire Station Community Room.
"We are delighted that the Council has listened to our views and have made changes to their original proposal, keeping much-needed Sure Start services firmly in the Irlam and Cadishead area" says Sue Campayne of the Fight The Closure of Our Sure Start Centres Irlam and Cadishead campaign.
"Although it is sad that these cuts must be made at all, we hope that this revised proposal is agreed at Cabinet, and that the centre users and staff can carry on with the good work that goes on here."
Campaigners didn't manage to save the site at St Paul's in Walkden which will be used for extra classrooms for St Paul's Heathside Primary School. But all the sessions that happened there will be maintained in community venues, listed as Walkden Gateway; Worsley Church Hall; St John's Church Hall; Boothstown Village Hall; Walkden Fit City and Eylmin Hall.
"We have lost St Paul's as a Children's Centre but I am happy that the building will still be used even if it's going to be a classroom as some children will at least get the benefit from it. Just a shame for the Children's Centre though and the parents of the younger children" says Elaine Humphreys from the Fight The Closure of St Paul's Sure Start Children's Centre Walkden campaign.
Campaigners trying to save the Children's Centre at River View School in Lower Broughton declared themselves kind of pleased with their result, which will see space at the School continuing to be used for Children's Centre services.
"I think it's as good as we could hope for really" says Bek Stacey of the Save Lower Broughton Children's Centre campaign "The report acknowledges that there is strong feeling for the River View site to remain in use and they've 'revised their proposal' in light of that, which I think means the campaign definitely has made a difference!
"I think we've kept our play and stay sessions…how many a week we don't know, but still, we're in a much better place than when they were suggesting shutting the whole centre" she adds "I'm pleased with where we've got and I know we're not 100% certain what the timetable will look like and there may be less for us, but it sounds like our fight has ensured there is definitely going to be something rather than nothing - hurray!"
So, two out of three Sure Start Children's Centre sites have been saved as a result of huge community campaigns run by ordinary parents and carers of the kids who use them.
Keri Muldoon from the Lower Broughton campaign underlines the point…"On the whole, once everything is set in place we may not have what we wanted but we got more than we would have if we'd never put up a fight…"
Main photo by Steven Speed
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