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Children in Cornwall more at risk during lockdown warning The councillor in charge of children’s services has outlined how vulnerable children could be at more risk during the coronavirus lockdown. Sally Hawken, Cornwall Council Cabinet member for children, schools and families, highlighted the issues in an update to councillors. Her briefing to the council’s children and families overview and scrutiny committee explained that council staff were working to continue providing help during lockdown. She said: “Together for Families provide essential Early Help, Education, children�...

Children and family centres could be reduced PLANS to reduce the number of children and family centres in West Sussex from 43 to 11 have been discussed by a county council scrutiny committee. The changes form part of a proposed redesign of the county  council’s Early Help provision which it says aims to improve the services offered to the most vulnerable children and families, making sure they receive the help they need. During a meeting on Thursday, the committee “broadly supported” the plans but raised a number of questions and concerns. Michael Jones (Lab, Southgate and Goss...

Jacquie Russell, cabinet member for children and young people, told the meeting that the Early Help service – which supports around 4,000 children a year on Early Help plans – had continued throughout the pandemic when the centres were closed. She added: “Requests for service uptake were at a record high and that is pretty strong evidence that the service does not need to remain in a building.” The centres provide support to families with children aged five and under and deal with issues such as child development, school readiness, parenting skills, and health. But sometimes a buildi...

The closure of 32 centres has been proposed The closures are proposed as the county council attempts to improve and redesign its Early Help services, increasing support for vulnerable children and families and hopefully reducing the pressure on children’s services further down the line. If agreed, the changes would also see all 12 of the Find It Out youth advice centres closed as well. All together, this would chop £1.95m from the council’s expenses. A report to the Children and Young People’s Services scrutiny committee, which is due to meet on January 7, pointed out that ‘only a ...

Kind-hearted Northumberland residents and businesses show their Christmas spirit Hundreds of toys and gifts have been donated to children in need this Christmas thanks to kind-hearted Northumberland residents and businesses. Wednesday, 23rd December 2020, 12:50 pm Every year Northumberland County Council receives donations of gifts, toys, vouchers and money to ensure all children and young people in the county receive a gift at Christmas. The council’s Early Help and Children’s Safeguarding teams, including children's centre staff, have been working hard to collect and distribute donated ...