News

'Open children's centres to all age groups'

Children's centres should become inter-generational settings to withstand the effect of cuts and to promote integration between different age groups, according to a new social enterprise.

United for All Ages, which has been launched by Stephen Burke and Denise Burke, has published a report calling for local authorities to make the best use of all resources in local communities.

The report, United or Divided?, identifies seven different age ranges and argues that a common agenda of shared sites and shared caring can help build a stronger Britain for people of all ages.

In her former role as head of childcare at the London Development Agency, Ms Burke (right), helped to fund an inter-generational setting in the London Borough of Merton. She said, 'As recession and spending cuts threaten many of the public services we take for granted, it is time for a re-evaluation of how we make the best use of resources for all ages and how we pay for those services.

'In some ways children's centres are a wasted resource - many of them are only open weekdays, and only during the day. We can make better use of capital resources by running services for other age groups from children's centre buildings. We also want to bring different age groups together and not just have these services running at separate times of the day.'

The £1.5m Agacia Intergenerational Centre in Merton was England's first purpose-built inter-generational setting. The setting features a children's centre and also offers services such as IT facilities and training for young and old, a programme of reading, arts, crafts and drama sessions, and a variety of sports and games.

Ms Burke predicted that up to a third of children's centres could shut following funding cuts and the removal of ring-fencing. She said, 'I believe it is likely we will lose most of the Phase 3 children's centres. We want to promote that there are ways of sustaining children's centres by bringing services for other age groups under the same roof and using other pots of money.'

Further information

www.unitedforallages.org.uk