Campaign to save Lewisham's Stay and Play clubs gathers pace
Katy Morton
Tuesday, January 22, 2013
Hundreds of Lewisham toddlers and their parents have been building snowmen to protest against the threatened closure of their council-run stay and play clubs.
Photos of the snowmen, built by children who attend the Friendly Gardens and Telegraph Hill play clubs, two of seven stay and play clubs under threat of closure, will be presented to Lewisham Council today, alongside a petition by parents who are campaigning against the cuts.
Lewisham Council is proposing to cease funding its seven Generation Play Clubs in April and allow the community to take over the running of the play-based services following a cut of £53.5m to its budget.
However, parents who have launched a campaign- ‘Save Telegraph Hill Playclub’ - against the cuts, have expressed concern that a private provider could take over the running of the stay and play clubs with the aim of making a profit.
The Generation Play Clubs, which provide free play opportunities for children under five who are accompanied by their parents or carers, are: Bellingham Green, Deptford Park, Forster Park, Friendly Gardens, Grove Park, Silwood Estate and Telegraph Hill.
Mayor of Lewisham Sir Steve Bullock said, ‘We are doing everything we can to protect the things people value most, but the financial situation we face is very serious. While we will continue to work every penny of taxpayers' money as hard as we can, the Government’s squeeze on public spending means we will inevitably face some very difficult decisions over the coming months.’
Save Telegraph Hill Playclub campaigner Laura Seabright said, ‘A community-run solution is a good alternative to losing the play clubs, but will the council assure us that they won’t allow private providers to cash in and support the building of free sustainable drop in play provision for our children?’
A decision about the future of the council’s seven Generation Play Clubs is expected to be made by the Mayor of Lewisham next month.
Photos of the children’s snowmen can also been viewed on the Save Telegraph Hill Playclub Facebook page.
Lewisham Council is proposing to cease funding its seven Generation Play Clubs in April and allow the community to take over the running of the play-based services following a cut of £53.5m to its budget.
However, parents who have launched a campaign- ‘Save Telegraph Hill Playclub’ - against the cuts, have expressed concern that a private provider could take over the running of the stay and play clubs with the aim of making a profit.
The Generation Play Clubs, which provide free play opportunities for children under five who are accompanied by their parents or carers, are: Bellingham Green, Deptford Park, Forster Park, Friendly Gardens, Grove Park, Silwood Estate and Telegraph Hill.
Mayor of Lewisham Sir Steve Bullock said, ‘We are doing everything we can to protect the things people value most, but the financial situation we face is very serious. While we will continue to work every penny of taxpayers' money as hard as we can, the Government’s squeeze on public spending means we will inevitably face some very difficult decisions over the coming months.’
Save Telegraph Hill Playclub campaigner Laura Seabright said, ‘A community-run solution is a good alternative to losing the play clubs, but will the council assure us that they won’t allow private providers to cash in and support the building of free sustainable drop in play provision for our children?’
A decision about the future of the council’s seven Generation Play Clubs is expected to be made by the Mayor of Lewisham next month.
Photos of the children’s snowmen can also been viewed on the Save Telegraph Hill Playclub Facebook page.
