Boston Spa needs a children's centre
From: Angie Fulford, Prince Rupert Drive, Tockwith.
IWRITE in reply to a short article in the Wetherby News on the proposed children’s centre in Boston Spa.
There was comment on the Early Years spending 500,000 on this proposed building.
May I point out the cost is partly due to elected members of parish councillors insisting on a stone build (aesthetically pleasing?) when in actual fact the area is surrounded by two old rendered buildings which are in need of repair, wooden buildings, brick houses and some stone, already a mix of styles.
One thing getting lost in all this propaganda is the fact that the Government, following the enquiry into Victoria Climbie’s death, wanted to safeguard children in the future so wrote the document Every Child Matters, a ten-year child care strategy. This was to provide all communities access and provision of a children’s centre – providing children’s services, support for all families, children with special needs, families with real problems, along with therapy etc.
Boston Spa hides behind a traditional stone facade – blind to the fact there are families in need, needing support, guidance, help. This needs to be accessible and central for all families to access this valuable support in order to safeguard children and young people.
Surely the content of this building is what is important and why it is needed.
Finally I take up the point it will not be a community space for adults. No, it’s not. It’s a children’s centre offering services that should help towards safeguarding children and young people from dangers of a modern society. They are the future society and we need to give them support (after all the local community will benefit) and families will be safe and more secure with young people respected and provided for.
If we discuss this any longer we will lose the children’s centre and it may be just an office, a “hub” still offering services, but not a place for families to go and discuss their problems or concerns.
The local Deepdale Pre-School will continue to grow and develop and offer flexible early years education and will work closely with the children’s centre and develop a strong liaison whether within the build or on its present site. It will always have strong links with the centre and will always develop. We need the children’s centre.
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Friday 10 February 2012
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