MAJOR changes to children’s centres in Stroud could leave families “at risk”, community leaders have said.

Gloucestershire County Council (GCC) plans to overhaul family support services so that money can be focused on safeguarding children and social workers.

The authority has proposed reducing the number of children’s centres it funds in Stroud district from seven to two.

This would mean that the centres in Stonehouse and Dursley become hubs for family and children’s services. Gloucestershire County Council says these are the areas where families are most likely to need help.

But the proposals could also lead to major changes to the other five, including Five Ways in Cashes Green and Parliament Children’s Centre in Stroud.

Charities and community groups would be given the option to take control of the five centres, with financial support from GCC, but there is no guarantee this will happen – putting their future at risk.

The centres provide a range of services, including early year’s education, health advice, fathers' groups, courses for expectant parents and one-on-one counselling.

It is not clear which of these services would be lost at the five centres if the changes go ahead.

Stroud Town Council has objected to GCC’s proposals, saying they will inevitably result in a loss of some key services and leave families at risk.

“The council believes that these centres provide important and valuable services for residents from Stroud and the wider area and should be retained,” said the mayor, Cllr Kevin Cranston.

“We do not believe that the needs of this population can be effectively served from a single centre in Stonehouse.

“Concentrating services in larger centres would make them inaccessible to many families without access to transport, especially those in rural locations.

“The centres at Parliament Street and Fiveways have good public transport access and are ideally sited to serve a large population.”

John Thompson, chair of Hill Valley & Vale, the charity which runs all seven centres in Stroud on behalf of GCC, also spoke out against the proposals.

“These centres are absolutely vital in helping families with young children,” he said. “Unfortunately the most vulnerable families are often those that don’t have proper access to transport.

“If Stroud town doesn’t have a children’s centre a lot of people are really going to find it hard to get to Stonehouse let alone Dursley. Despite the aim to reach those most in need in the district, these plans could be counterproductive in actuality, leading to greater isolation.

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“It’s now crucial we see a robust discussion from all levels of the community about the huge effects these changes will have on Stroud.”

Childminders from Parliament Children’s Centre in Stroud said the changes would mean a lot more hassle for parents in Stroud.

“I think it’s important every area in the district has a place like this they can come to that properly supports their children and their family,” said Samantha Mathews, a childminder who has been using the centre for 10 years.

“A lot of people who use the social care and children’s services at the moment would struggle to get to Stonehouse in the mornings, especially by public transport.”

Louise Henry, another childminder, added: “It would be a real shame to see the centre stop providing some services. Well established services like our young parents group and nurture group really are important to a lot of people.

“Closing one of these facilities in Stroud is bad, but two would be a real blow.”

Councillor Paul McLain, cabinet member for young people at GCC, stressed that the changes were only proposals at this stage and not a done deal.

He said: “There are currently seven children’s centres in Stroud and the proposal being consulted upon is for two of these to become children and family centres.

“The other five would be used for education and childcare, office space for professionals such as community midwives and health visitors and services for families delivered by parent and community groups.

“These proposed changes will also be complemented by £3.7million investment in additional social workers, managers and other support and development to help social workers.

“No decisions have yet been made. We want the public to tell us what they think of the proposals and to tell us what they need from the centres.

“The feedback will help us to determine what changes will be made, and how we deliver the services in the future.”

Consultation on the proposals is open until April 11 and residents can comment online at gloucestershire.gov.uk/familyservices or by attending one of the drop-in sessions.

They are at Stroud Subscription Rooms from 10am to noon on February 1, Dursley Vibe Youth Centre at 10am to noon on February 16 and then Nailsworth Town Council from 2pm to 4pm on February 16.

  • Approximately 10,000, or 11 per cent, of children in Gloucestershire currently live in poverty, figures show.