25/1/2012 - Parental praise for Cumbria`s children`s centres

Parents and carers have given a big thumbs up to Cumbria’s Sure Start Children’s Centres, with more than 95 per cent saying they are satisfied with the service, new figures have revealed.

To find out how people rate the 28 centres across Cumbria, the county council conducted a survey last year to explore the general levels of satisfaction.

The survey was available online as well as in all the centres and it asked a range of questions on issues including how the centres benefit children and outcomes for parents and carers.

In addition to 95.1 per cent of respondents saying they are satisfied (72.7 per cent of who were ‘very satisfied’) with the service, other impressive headline figures included:

* Nearly 80 per cent said they either strongly agreed or agreed that attending a children’s centre  had given their child more confidence.

* More than 60 per cent felt the centres had given their child more chance to socialise and make new  friends.

* Around 70 per cent said the centres supported them with their parenting skills.

As well as asking multiple choice questions the survey gave respondents the opportunity to share their thoughts by providing two free text questions allowing them to record their views on the service.

Respondents made it clear that the most important aspects of the centres were the opportunity to socialise, supportive staff and the range of activities on offer.

Cumbria's Sure Start Children’s Centres provide support and information for parents and prospective parents on local services for themselves and their children. They aim to help ensure that these services are made available in an integrated manner; that every child in Cumbria has the best start in life; and that parents have better opportunities.

Cumbria County Council funds the centres and awarded contracts - running until March 2014, to Barnardo’s, Action for Children and Howgill Family Centre to provide the services the centres offer.

Councillor Anne Burns, Cumbria County Council’s cabinet member for children’s social care, said: "We knew our Sure Start Children’s Centres were providing a good service that was highly valued, but to have this confirmed in the survey is very pleasing.

"Many other local authorities have cut funding to Sure Start Children’s Centres but in Cumbria we recognise how vital they are in getting the best for children, young people and families.

"This survey clearly shows our commitment to maintaining the centres has been absolutely the right approach to take for Cumbria.”

Richard Simpson, assistant director (children's services) for Barnardo’s in Cumbria said: "We are delighted with the outcome of this survey and that parents view our centres so positively. We agree that children’s centres are a very valued service by parents and this is borne out by the findings of this survey.”

Carol Iddon, strategic director for Action for Children in the North, said: "It is fantastic to know that families in Cumbria feel so positive about the children’s centres and the support they offer.
 
"Action for Children believes every child deserves the best start in life and staff work hard to make sure the children’s centres help parents and carers to get the support they need to provide this. Working closely with Cumbria County Council and the parents themselves, we strive to ensure the centres offer a variety of fun activities and expert support so that community benefit from the centre is maximised. We are always keen to hear how we are doing and the positive outcome of this survey is a good indication that we’re on the right track.”

Russell Norman, Chief Executive of Howgill Family Centre, said: "Howgill Family Centre are delighted that the partnership working through children’s centres is valued by the users and clearly helps Cumbria County Council to deliver on its priority to help the most vulnerable. As one parent told us recently ‘the children’s centre has helped me get out of the house and meet new people at the same time as learning new skills'. Children’s Centres are an invaluable resource for the community and make a real difference to families.”

Media enquiries to communications adviser John Ballard on 01228 221752