Council to consult on Sure Start centres in Craven

Sure Start was a flagship policy of Tony Blair’s Labour government and was launched to improve children’s life chances, with local authority-controlled centres set up to support families with children under five.

Skipton’s children’s centre is located within Skipton Parish Church of England Primary School on Brougham Street and was set up with almost £3 million Government funding.

North Craven Sure Start children’s centre in Hellifield, at the Hellifield Community Primary School site, and which was set up with £75,000 Government funding, is also part of the consultation.

The council says since the Covid-19 pandemic began almost five years ago, many of its support services for parents and children have moved online.

A spokesperson added this has reduced the need for physical premises and has led to more people being able to access services.

Last year, the council agreed to de-register a Sure Start children’s centre in Glusburn as part of cost-cutting measures.

The spokesperson also said de-registering the buildings as children’s centres will allow “much greater flexibility” for future uses of the spaces which could generate income for the authority and save money on bills.

The sites in Skipton and Hellifield are included on a list of 18 remaining Sure Start centres across North Yorkshire. 

A 28-day public consultation is set to begin at the end of August following approval of the council executive members for education earlier this week.

A report will then go before the executive in October before a final decision is made.

Since the Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government and the introduction of austerity measures, more than 1,000 Sure Start centres have closed.

North Yorkshire Council and the former county council have already closed 18 children’s centres. These were set up with a total Sure Start government investment of £4.9m which it was not required to pay back.