New Sure Start centres for South Gloucestershire

FOUR new children's centres will open in South Gloucestershire, providing more one-stop shops for parents and young children.

South Gloucestershire Council is planning to use £2.2 million of Government money to provide the Sure Start centres in Severn Beach, Bradley Stoke and Mangotsfield.

The fourth centre, in Yate, is already being built but its 2009 completion date means it is designated under the same phase three stage of the programme as the others.

Sure Start centres were created to provide a joined-up service for families, giving access to early learning and childcare, parenting advice, health services and help in finding work or training.

South Gloucestershire's first centre was opened in October 2006 in Staple Hill, which was run as a pilot project.

There are now 11 grant-funded centres across the district and the latest to be provided will help not only those living in the areas chosen.

By having a centre in Severn Beach Primary School, an existing mobile unit which currently covers the area will be released to visit rural villages in the wards of Boyd Valley, Bitton and Siston.

Sheila Cook, South Gloucestershire's cabinet member for children and young people, has approved the four locations.

She said: "These new children's centres are an excellent way to enable children, young people and their families to access services more easily.

"We consulted extensively on the first wave of children's centres and the responses we got back from that exercise have helped us identify where this next wave should go.

"We are determined to target support to the most vulnerable to try to give them the best possible start in life."

Under the proposals, the Bradley Stoke service will be based at Bowsland Green Primary School.

Currently families have to travel to centres in Little Stoke, Filton or Patchway to make use of the facility.

The Mangotsfield centre will open in Barley Close Primary School, while parents in Yate will use facilities in the new health complex being built.

Bradley Stoke councillor Sarah Pomfret, said: "There's a lot of need for something like this in the town and there will be an even bigger increase in population as a result of the Northfield development at Filton airfield.

"Establishing a children's centre in Bradley Stoke will also allow the existing centres at the Stokes and Filton to offer services to the future community arising from the development planned at Harry Stoke."

Emersons Green councillor James Hunt, said: "A centre for the increasing number of young families in Emersons Green will be welcomed and well-used."

Boyd Valley councillor Sandra Grant, said: "Releasing the existing mobile children's centre to give proper coverage to villages such as Pucklechurch, Wick and Marshfield is a hugely positive step."