This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/society/2013/nov/12/cameron-save-sure-start-children-centres-oxfordshire
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Cameron urged to back campaign to save Oxfordshire Sure Start centres | Cameron urged to back campaign to save Oxfordshire Sure Start centres |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| When Lisa Shaw's husband was dying from cancer and she was caring for him as well as their young child, she says the local children's centre in Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire saved her from having a breakdown. "I was getting very little sleep. It was 24/7 and as a first-time parent looking after a child is demanding enough, but I really needed help. I think I would have collapsed and been an empty shell but for the centre." | When Lisa Shaw's husband was dying from cancer and she was caring for him as well as their young child, she says the local children's centre in Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire saved her from having a breakdown. "I was getting very little sleep. It was 24/7 and as a first-time parent looking after a child is demanding enough, but I really needed help. I think I would have collapsed and been an empty shell but for the centre." |
| When he passed away the centre in David Cameron's constituency, helped with more than just childcare: "They helped me with getting benefits and with courses not just about being a good parent, but also about returning to work – CV-writing courses and a baby and child first aid course. It was also sometimes a place away from it all where I could have 'me time' and talk to people about what I was going through." | When he passed away the centre in David Cameron's constituency, helped with more than just childcare: "They helped me with getting benefits and with courses not just about being a good parent, but also about returning to work – CV-writing courses and a baby and child first aid course. It was also sometimes a place away from it all where I could have 'me time' and talk to people about what I was going through." |
| So she is confused and angry that such a valuable resource is now under threat. Oxfordshire county council announced in October plans to close 37 of the county's 44 Sure Start children's centres – including Shaw's centre in the PM's Witney seat. | So she is confused and angry that such a valuable resource is now under threat. Oxfordshire county council announced in October plans to close 37 of the county's 44 Sure Start children's centres – including Shaw's centre in the PM's Witney seat. |
| The Conservative council leader, Ian Hudspeth, said the closures were just a proposal, but were necessary because the council's grant from central government has been cut further. He said that he had briefed Cameron on the plans last week. The threatened closures across the Tory-controlled county have led to a local campaign that has been taken up by Gloria de Piero, Labour's new shadow equalities minister. | The Conservative council leader, Ian Hudspeth, said the closures were just a proposal, but were necessary because the council's grant from central government has been cut further. He said that he had briefed Cameron on the plans last week. The threatened closures across the Tory-controlled county have led to a local campaign that has been taken up by Gloria de Piero, Labour's new shadow equalities minister. |
| She visited the ACE centre in Chipping Norton on Friday and met local people and campaigners. Many told her that they regard the Sure Start programme as a lifeline for young and often isolated mothers. The picture they painted was far removed from the parties and country suppers conjured up by the media image of the Chipping Norton set. | She visited the ACE centre in Chipping Norton on Friday and met local people and campaigners. Many told her that they regard the Sure Start programme as a lifeline for young and often isolated mothers. The picture they painted was far removed from the parties and country suppers conjured up by the media image of the Chipping Norton set. |
| Amanda Axbey, one of the campaigners, said: "Cameron is on a promise so far as I am concerned to keep these centres open. It's about being able to trust him. He needs to understand fully what this service provides for women and families and how shortsighted it would be if it was taken away." | Amanda Axbey, one of the campaigners, said: "Cameron is on a promise so far as I am concerned to keep these centres open. It's about being able to trust him. He needs to understand fully what this service provides for women and families and how shortsighted it would be if it was taken away." |
| De Piero said Oxfordshire was far from unique. She claims 575 Sure Start centres have been shut nationwide or merged and points to a promise Cameron made on the eve of the election in 2010 to defend Sure Start. | De Piero said Oxfordshire was far from unique. She claims 575 Sure Start centres have been shut nationwide or merged and points to a promise Cameron made on the eve of the election in 2010 to defend Sure Start. |
| He said: "Yes, we back Sure Start. It's a disgrace that Gordon Brown has been trying to frighten people about this. He's the prime minister of this country but he's been scaring people about something that really matters." | He said: "Yes, we back Sure Start. It's a disgrace that Gordon Brown has been trying to frighten people about this. He's the prime minister of this country but he's been scaring people about something that really matters." |
| Cameron says he has signed a Conservative petition to keep the centre open but declined to sign a petition offered to him by the group fighting to maintain the ACE centre in Chipping Norton, which is less than five miles from Cameron's Oxfordshire retreat of Dean. He insists the responsibility does not lie with central government. | Cameron says he has signed a Conservative petition to keep the centre open but declined to sign a petition offered to him by the group fighting to maintain the ACE centre in Chipping Norton, which is less than five miles from Cameron's Oxfordshire retreat of Dean. He insists the responsibility does not lie with central government. |
| De Piero said the coalition's decision to end the ringfence around funding such centres has left them vulnerable to cuts. She fears many more will close in what will be the fourth round of local government cuts starting in 2014. | De Piero said the coalition's decision to end the ringfence around funding such centres has left them vulnerable to cuts. She fears many more will close in what will be the fourth round of local government cuts starting in 2014. |
| Oxfordshire county council said it will have removed £200m by 2017 as part of a government plan to get the country's finances in order, but needs to find another £60m over the next four years. Its non-schools budget will be £564m in 2013-14, and by the end of the six years' austerity, the council says it will have lost £96m in grants annually. | Oxfordshire county council said it will have removed £200m by 2017 as part of a government plan to get the country's finances in order, but needs to find another £60m over the next four years. Its non-schools budget will be £564m in 2013-14, and by the end of the six years' austerity, the council says it will have lost £96m in grants annually. |
| Nationally, the overall budget for children's centres has fallen from £1.46bn in 2010 to £854m in 2013-14. It is likely to fall to £800m in 2014-15. | Nationally, the overall budget for children's centres has fallen from £1.46bn in 2010 to £854m in 2013-14. It is likely to fall to £800m in 2014-15. |
| Laetisia Carter, a health administrator who has used the centre with her one-year-old baby, said her circumstances were a far cry from the media image of Chipping Norton. "People think Chippy is rich and of the Chipping Norton Set – Rebekah Brooks and David Cameron. None of them live in Chipping Norton – they all live in the posh villages outside and we are all blighted with this Hunter-boot wearing, Land Rover-driving image. There are 6,000 people in this town and a disproportionate number don't drive and there is a bus every hour. We are not rich." | Laetisia Carter, a health administrator who has used the centre with her one-year-old baby, said her circumstances were a far cry from the media image of Chipping Norton. "People think Chippy is rich and of the Chipping Norton Set – Rebekah Brooks and David Cameron. None of them live in Chipping Norton – they all live in the posh villages outside and we are all blighted with this Hunter-boot wearing, Land Rover-driving image. There are 6,000 people in this town and a disproportionate number don't drive and there is a bus every hour. We are not rich." |
| She said there were few places locally to take a baby, particularly in the winter. "It was so stressful and the centre was somewhere to go to talk and learn about children's play," she said. | She said there were few places locally to take a baby, particularly in the winter. "It was so stressful and the centre was somewhere to go to talk and learn about children's play," she said. |
| Paul Bolton and his partner, Toni Bloomfield, are also fighting to keep the centre open. He recalls being telephoned at his house in Portsmouth to come to look after his four children from a previous relationship at short notice. | |
| "The children's centre helped to counsel the children … The centre has helped me think about how I talk about these issues. It is such a rollercoaster. To go from someone with no children to four children was a shock. They have been a fantastic help to me." | |
| Axbey insists the campaign is not political. "Whoever is in power is stuck in a difficult situation. I don't care who is in there but all of the parties have to understand what this provides and what they will be doing to society." | Axbey insists the campaign is not political. "Whoever is in power is stuck in a difficult situation. I don't care who is in there but all of the parties have to understand what this provides and what they will be doing to society." |
| Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. | Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. |