Findon children and family centre services to be relocated

Services are currently provided out of a building at the Vale School site in Vale Avenue, but West Sussex County Council is proposing to move them to the library site in Lime Tree Avenue.

Meanwhile the building will be remodelled and leased to a childcare provider.

A spokesman for the county council said: “A more central base in Findon for family support and extended opening hours for library users are two of the benefits of the proposals to bring together the Findon Valley Children and Family Centre (CFC) and the Findon Library on the same site, in Lime Tree Avenue.

“The CFC will be closer to the main area of supported families and give them access to universal services in one place such as the toy library, health activities and clinics.

“Childcare availability would also improve with the building on the Vale School site being remodelled and leased to a childcare provider.”

The proposed changes were revealed in the council’s latest forward plan of key decisions, with a final decision due in July. The authority is currently seeking feedback from families who use the centre and visitors to the library.

The county council is anticipating that the initial costs of moving will be recouped through new rental income, while through a combined use of the building it aims to make both library and CFC services available to users for longer. The spokesman added: “We hope to be able to take account of user views in our planning, particularly for more specific activities such as the Health Visitor clinic or Knit and Natter.”

Midwifery sessions would be relocated to the council’s children and family centre in Broadwater.

According to the forward plan the proposals aim to improve outcomes and school readiness for children, improve access to services for residents as part of its community offer initiative, better utilise council property as part of strategic asset management planning, and help implement a new initiative to provide 30 hours of free childcare for working parents. To have your say on plans email [email protected]

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