4Children closes as 'funding pressures' take toll
Tuesday, August 30, 2016
‘Funding pressures’ have forced the closure of charity 4Children tomorrow (31 August), with Action for Children taking over many of its services, including the early years and childcare work for the Government.
4Children’s role as strategic partner for early years and childcare under Sue Robb and her team, including the Foundation Years website, will continue at Action for Children’s Holborn headquarters.
Most of 4Children’s nurseries (41 in the 2015 Nursery Chains), including those serving the RAF, will transfer to Action for Children, with some being taken back in house by local authorities and two whose future is to be decided.
Some 727 4Children staff will move to Action for Children, 207 are going to a local authority or other provider, 85 are being made redundant and four’s positions are ‘uncertain’.
The two charities said that the move was ‘designed to maintain continuity for families’. As well as its policy work, 4Children offers childcare, family support and youth services.
Chief executive Imelda Redmond is not believed to be moving over. She said, ‘The decision to merge many of our services with Action for Children has been made in the long term interest of children and families. Recent changes in our contract portfolio and broader funding pressures have led trustees to pursue this managed transfer, which will strengthen the position of frontline services to withstand these pressures while continuing to deliver high quality support.
‘We are pleased to be joining forces with Action for Children whose values, culture and organisational structure are an ideal fit for our own. This will help to create a smooth transition for staff and minimise any disruption to the children and families we support.’
Sir Tony Hawkhead, Chief Executive of Action for Children, said, 'The operating environment for charities is increasingly challenging. The overriding aim of our discussions is to maintain the best possible services for the children and families we support. Greater collaboration within the sector is something many charities are investigating and this announcement supports that approach. I look forward to welcoming 4Children families and the members of staff who support them across the UK.'
