Three year contracts to operate Bournemouth’s eight Children’s Centres have been announced following a rigorous tendering process.
· Barnardo’s will manage Queen’s Park, Townsend, Stokewood and Winton Children’s Centres.
· The Children’s Society will manage Boscombe, Kingsleigh and Kinson and West Howe Children’s Centres.
· The YMCA will manage Pokesdown and Southbourne Children’s Centres.
Councillor Nicola Greene, Cabinet Member for Education and Children’s Services, said, “Maintaining our Children’s Centres in Bournemouth is a high priority for the council. The centres provide a valuable service for the local community, and unlike some other local authorities where cuts have had to be made to this service, the council is continuing to invest and has secured contracts to run the centres for a further three years.”
Bournemouth’s Children’s Centres provide a range of services and support for families with children under five-years-old. All the centres that have recently been inspected by Ofsted have been awarded either ‘Outstanding’ or ‘Good’ ratings.
The new management contracts will commence on 2 September 2013. Bournemouth Borough Council has committed £5.5 million of funding to ensure high quality support will be continued for local families over the next three years.
Local families and children should see no noticeable change to Children’s Centre services during this time.
Further information on Children’s Centres within Bournemouth can be found at: www.bournemouth.gov.uk/childrenscentres
