A PETITION with the aim of preventing the closure of a children’s centre in Stanford-le-Hope has been started.
The petition reads:
“We the undersigned petition Thurrock Council to amend the proposed changes to Children’s Public Health Services and Children’s Centres to no longer include the closure of Stanford-Le-Hope Children’s Centre.
“While we accept Thurrock Council’s desire to integrate and strengthen services for children and young people aged 0-19 and families in need of additional help, we ask that Stanford-le-Hope Children’s Centre remains open and does not become an outreach service.
Stanford-le-Hope Children’s Centre is a crucial part of the community and we think it is important for families in Stanford-Le-Hope, Corringham, Fobbing, Horndon-on-the-Hill and Orsett to have access to a local dedicated facility that is open 5 days a week, with trained staff members on hand to offer support and advice.
“The flexible drop-in sessions and facilities, including a range of educational and age appropriate toys and access to a garden area, that would be lost if the Children’s Centre were to close, are vital for parents in need of extra support and for those who don’t have access to such facilities elsewhere.
https://www.change.org/p/thurrock-council-save-stanford-le-hope-children-s-centre
Our own Children’s Centre is at risk in Aveley and like Stanford they do support services that people throughout Thurrock use.
All this at a time when Aveley has seen a massive growth in numbers of children by the building of new homes, this is evidenced by the growth of the neighbouring Aveley Primary School by two classrooms recently with close to 500 pupils in house at this time, these services are at a premium in our communities and instead of reducing / streamlining we need these services to be strengthened to cope with the increasing numbers.
I am sure more of the under threat Centres will soon be organising their own Petition’s.