Parents protest against proposed children’s centres closures
Parents came together outside Hackney Town Hall on Wednesday to protest against the proposed closure of two of the borough’s children’s centres, Fernbank and Hillside.
Parents and nursery staff gathered at Hackney Town Hall, along with other protest groups. Photo by Hannah Ward-Glenton.
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Almost 100 parents and nursery centre workers gathered outside Hackney Town Hall on Wednesday to voice their anger at the proposed closure of two nurseries in the borough.
Hackney Council recently announced a consultation on its Early Years Strategy and proposed changes to Hackney’s children’s centres, including the possible closure of Fernbank Children’s Centre and Hillsbank Children’s Centre.
Parents and nursery staff gathered at Hackney Town Hall, along with other protest groups. Photo by Hannah Ward-Glenton.
Families dependent on the services will have to find alternative childcare facilities, and the closures will result in up to 30 staff redundancies.
Brian Debus, Head of Hackney Unison said that parents and staff at the centres had not been given enough of a say on the decision, and that it had been made “on the back of an envelope”.
Discussing the cuts, Debus added: “It’s early years provisions… This is the start of people’s nourishment of life, the development of life. They’re cutting that off. It’s completely the wrong thing to do.”
Alexandra Gerber, who has a son at Fernbank and had planned to send her unborn baby to the centre. Photo by Hannah Ward-Glenton.
In response to the protests, Hackney’s Cabinet Member for Early Years, Councillor Caroline Woodley:
“The Council has tens of millions of pounds of savings to make due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and sustained Government cuts on the Council’s finance (sic). This is seriously impacting services across the Council, including the service that manages children’s centres, which has £1 million savings to make.
“We have held off proposing cuts to our children’s centre provision for as long as we possibly can, but we cannot keep promising to carry on as usual for less money – it is unsustainable.”
The Cowbury family, who have used Hackney’s children’s centres since the birth of their young daughter. Photo by Hannah Ward-Glenton.
The Save Fernbank protest was one of several campaigns that took to the steps of the town hall in protest of recent council decisions.
The building was hosting a Hackney Council cabinet meeting at the time of the protests.
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HeadlineParents protest against proposed children’s centres closures
Short HeadlineParents protest proposed nursery closures
StandfirstParents came together outside Hackney Town Hall on Wednesday to protest against the proposed closure of two of the borough’s children’s centres, Fernbank and Hillside.
Almost 100 parents and nursery centre workers gathered outside Hackney Town Hall on Wednesday to voice their anger at the proposed closure of two nurseries in the borough.
Hackney Council recently announced a consultation on its Early Years Strategy and proposed changes to Hackney’s children’s centres, including the possible closure of Fernbank Children’s Centre and Hillsbank Children’s Centre.
Parents and nursery staff gathered at Hackney Town Hall, along with other protest groups. Photo by Hannah Ward-Glenton.
Families dependent on the services will have to find alternative childcare facilities, and the closures will result in up to 30 staff redundancies.
Brian Debus, Head of Hackney Unison said that parents and staff at the centres had not been given enough of a say on the decision, and that it had been made “on the back of an envelope”.
Discussing the cuts, Debus added: “It’s early years provisions… This is the start of people’s nourishment of life, the development of life. They’re cutting that off. It’s completely the wrong thing to do.”
Alexandra Gerber, who has a son at Fernbank and had planned to send her unborn baby to the centre. Photo by Hannah Ward-Glenton.
In response to the protests, Hackney’s Cabinet Member for Early Years, Councillor Caroline Woodley:
“The Council has tens of millions of pounds of savings to make due to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and sustained Government cuts on the Council’s finance (sic). This is seriously impacting services across the Council, including the service that manages children’s centres, which has £1 million savings to make.
“We have held off proposing cuts to our children’s centre provision for as long as we possibly can, but we cannot keep promising to carry on as usual for less money – it is unsustainable.”
The Cowbury family, who have used Hackney’s children’s centres since the birth of their young daughter. Photo by Hannah Ward-Glenton.
The Save Fernbank protest was one of several campaigns that took to the steps of the town hall in protest of recent council decisions.
The building was hosting a Hackney Council cabinet meeting at the time of the protests.
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