Hodge in children’s centres cash plea

Regional development agencies were urged this week to invest in
children’s centres by children’s minister Margaret Hodge.

She said she hoped the nine agencies, which were primarily charged
with tackling economic regeneration, would recognise the importance
of children’s centres to economic development.

The minister said professionals should combine public and private
investment to fund the centres.

She was speaking at a conference on children’s centres in
London.

Sally Threlfall, of Leeds early years service, said the centres in
her area had gained funding by proving their benefits to various
bodies.

Leeds was awarded more than £2m of single regeneration budget
funding and neighbourhood renewal capital in one year alone, she
said.

She urged fellow professionals to take advantage of the prominent
position of children’s centres in the political agenda.

“Children’s centres are flavour of the month. But it won’t be for
long,” Threlfall said.