£2.5 million bid by Sure Start

Richard Watson has worked since his January appointment as local manager of the Government's Sure Start programme on preparing the bid.

Three copies of the 111-page submission were sent by taxi to Westminster to meet the May 1 deadline.

Richard is seeking funding worth 2.5m over the next three years on behalf of young families in Sidley and Central wards.

Such is the need in the two wards that he is confident of success. But he will still have to wait until mid-Summer for a decision on projects he is keen to get underway by Autumn.

"We have been asked to put in the bid because two areas of the Sure Start catchment area, Central and Sidley ward, are defined by the Government as areas of deprivation.

"We have outlined what services we will develop for the areas to meet this need, based on speaking to parents, statutory agencies, the voluntary sector and key community individuals and families with young children in Bexhill and Sidley.

"What they require is better support services, improved child care services, fringe benefits and better training and facilities to enable them to get back to work.

"We will find out the result of the bid just before mid-Summer. We are already putting some of the funding to use because we had some development funding provided at the outset.

"We are developing and enhancing a home visiting scheme from Sidley Community Centre.

"We are providing a mobile creche and toy library through Bexhill And Battle Under-Fives.

"The remainder of the plans outlined in the plan we aim to have provided by late Summer and to get them up and running by Autumn.

"There will be a phased programme of activity."

Sure Start has been in discussion with Bexhill Museum Association and Bexhill Museum of Costume and Social History over its plan for a major centre on the old swimming pool site in Egerton Park adjoining the planned joint museums extension.

Sure Start is also in discussion with Sidley Community Association over re-development of the Rainbow Playgroup room at the centre, a prefabricated building which saw former service as a school gymnasium.

"We are hoping that if we get the necessary planning permissions and working in partnership with the different interested parties in the area we would like to have development started in the park and at Sidley Community Centre by Spring 2003. If everything goes to plan the buildings would be complete and open for community use by early 2004.

"We are still negotiating with Sidley Community Association about any development plans. What we are essentially doing is creating a brand-new child care facility on the site of the existing Rainbow Playgroup centre.

"Once we have started we have plans to extend the front of the community centre to provide a welcoming reception area and possibly more training and parent and family rooms."

Richard Watson said: "The enthusiasm and support from parents and from statutory agencies like Rother District Council and Bexhill and Rother Primary Care Trust and voluntary and community groups in the area have contributed to the development of the plan.

"The support has been absolutely fantastic and their help has been invaluable.

"The future is extremely bright for children and young families in Bexhill and Sidley."