Campaign Against Changes To West Sussex "Early Help" Provision

Opposition councillors in West Sussex have opened a campaign to persuade the county council not to close any of its existing Children and Family Centres.

The council, as reported by More Radio, wants to save up to £1.95m by reducing the number of physical centres under the "Sure Start" banner, where families with young children, who are experiencing stress for any of a number of reasons, can receive help and intervention.

Among other purposes, Children and Family Centres are intended to help parents find childcare, allow children to play, assist families to apply for funds they're entitled to receive, and act as advice centres (sometimes hands-on) to help early child development and pregnancy. 

West Sussex County Council officials believe that, by redesigning the early help network, and reducing the centres from 43 to 11, it will be possible to let staff work more closely with social care teams, improve early identification of families needing extra help, and improve collaboration and support among the wider staff.

It's also proposed that the savings should also including closing the county's "Find It Out" youth advice centres, of which there are 12.

But Labour party councillors on the Conservative-run authority and on other councils want the county council to retain the existing network of centres.

And now they've opened a campaign and petition, to push forward the idea they shouldn't close.

Local Labour councillors Catherine Arnold, Lee Cowen and Carl Walker say their petition has already gained over 1,000 signatures in under 24 hours, highlighting the strong public feeling against the proposed closures.

They're calling the existing centres an "essential part of many communities", especially at a time when the pandemic "poses so many physical, mental health and social isolation issues for so many vulnerable families". 

Their claims include that the changes risk the end of universal provision of support to families that would benefit from it.  

They fear areas that could entirely lose all their centres include Lancing and Sompting, Midhurst, Petworth, Selsey, Storrington, Billingshurst, East Grinstead and Burgess Hill.

Cllr Arnold from St Mary's Ward, Shoreham, said:

"The closure of our Family and Youth Centres in West Sussex shows a deep lack of understanding that these centres are literally a lifeline for many women and their children and will be again after Covid.  

"I know from personal experience when I was a young mother, I had no income at one point and a baby, that I could visit the centre get advice on breastfeeding and baby health and see friends.

"This was an incredibly important support service for both mine and my children's wellbeing."

The councillors added they believe that the centres give positive outcomes for many families identified as experiencing more complex problems and improve mental health outcomes for children and parents using the centres.

They also claim families, who were registered at centres, showed improved mental health compared to mothers at centres that had experienced budget cuts and were reducing services. 

A public consultation on the proposals is expected to take place in March, if county councillors approve the process.