Children’s centre and short breaks contracts awarded

Charities
Zahir Mohammed, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills

Registered charities Spurgeons and Action for Children have been awarded a new five year contract to run 28 of the County Council’s children’s centres and its targeted short break service for disabled children under five from 1 September 2016.

Spurgeons will run three children’s centres in the Aylesbury area and Action for Children will run twenty five children’s centres across the county, with seven children’s centres remaining under local school management, as well as the short breaks service.

The county’s children’s centres provide a wide range of activities and services for young children aged up to five and their families, including play, health, early education and family support such as help with family life, budgeting and job advice. The Council’s short break service provides short-term respite care for families of children with disabilities, and activities for the young children to support their development and socialisation.

Zahir Mohammed, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills, said: “We’re duty-bound to re-tender when the existing contracts end and the existing providers have given an excellent service to our families. After a rigorous tendering process, I’m pleased to welcome Spurgeons and Action for Children as our new providers.

“We’re aiming for a seamless transition between providers with existing and new providers working closely together to achieve a smooth handover.

“We look forward to working with Spurgeons and Action for Children over the next five years. With their help, we will continue to offer parents and young children the same quality service within their local community as they have come to expect.”

Yolanda Hampshire, Action for Children’s Operational Director for children’s services, said: “We are delighted to be running 25 children’s centres on behalf of Buckinghamshire County Council. We will ensure a smooth continuation of these vital community services, which make a real difference to local families, children and young people who need it most.

“We already run a number of children’s services in Buckinghamshire including short breaks for disabled children, activity clubs and the Kite Ridge residential unit for students with learning difficulties. This local knowledge combined with our national expertise and resource will deliver excellent services to families and their children across the area.”

Spurgeons Chief Executive Ross Hendry said: “Spurgeons is excited to have been entrusted with the care of three children’s centres in Aylesbury and we eagerly look forward to working with the local authority and other providers to achieve the goals and aspirations of the children and their families in Aylesbury who will be using these centres. We are an experienced provider of children’s services and we will ensure that our work is child-focused and child-centred so that we achieve only the very best for the children of Aylesbury.”

Read more about children’s centres at http://www.bucksfamilyinfo.org/kb5/buckinghamshire/fsd/home.page