March to save our children's centres on Thursday, February 26

Brighton Children's Centre Campaign is rallying people across the city against the proposed cuts.

Brighton Children's Centre Campaign is rallying people across the city against proposed cuts to council-run children's centres.

The campaign - helped by impressive support from The Argus newspaper - has already had some success: Hollingbury and Patcham Children's Centre and City View Children's Centre in Elm Grove no longer face closure after 'overwhelming feedback' to the city council.

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Two other centres, however, remain at risk: West Hove and Cornerstone.

Pinaki Ghoshal, the council's executive director of children's services, said the council now plans to save £510,000 - instead of £779,000 - from the children's centre budget.

Leila Erin-Jenkins who recently founded a Facebook campaign group with her sister, Felicity, said: "We want everyone who cares about children to join our protest on Thursday (February 26), starting in New Road, Brighton, next to Pavilion Gardens, marching to the crucial budget meeting at Hove Town Hall. Councillors need to understand how devastating these cuts are. They'll damage the lives of thousands of families and pull apart communities."

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Tony, who visits children's centres with his young twin boys, has spoken to parents in Hangleton and Mile Oak, where he lives: "The centres have been my lifesaver. I was thrown in at the deep end, when I became a stay-at-home dad. My wife's a nurse and childcare is just too expensive for us. "

Rani, who suffered post-natal depression, said: "I needed somewhere local and informal to meet other mums, not a five-month wait for a specialised post-natal depression support group. The drop-in group I attended was an utter lifeline for me.'

Naomi, with an autistic child, from Portslade, said: "It's the mix of parents I like. Just being able to join in and be welcomed by staff, who understand the strain on us as a family and my son's difficult behaviour.'

Felicity said: 'It's no joke living in a tiny flat, your family miles away, being stuck with a toddler, especially in winter with nowhere to go but the shops, when you've got no money anyway. Children are our future; we should be investing in children's centres, striving to provide more, not less. These services are not indulgent; they are a necessity.'

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Leila added: "Most councillors are telling us they are forced by central government to make these cuts. If they don't say 'enough is enough' to the government bullies now, what will be left of the children's centres in a few years? We hope Brighton and Hove Independent readers will join us at the protest on Thursday (February 26), meeting from 3.30pm.'