Changes to Solihull's Children's Centres

We are responsible for all the children’s centres in Solihull but we ask others to run them on our behalf.  It is a legal requirement that every few years we review who will be running our centres and we would like to tell you about some new and exciting plans.

From April 2012 four new organisations will be running our children’s centres:

Chelmsley Wood, Fordbridge, Marston Green and Smith’s Wood will be run by Spurgeons.  Spurgeons is one of the UK’s most well respected charities and works in partnership with a variety of child support agencies and through children’s centres, family centres and within family homes to support parents and children. 

Castle Bromwich, Kingshurst and Yorkswood will be run by the Children’s Society.  The Children’s Society is a leading children’s charity and runs over 75 programmes including 27 children’s centres throughout England.  They work in partnership with 40 councils and have experience working with families with young children.

Lyndon, Langley, Mill Lodge, Shirley Heath and Monkspath will be run by Barnados.  Barnados run over 800 projects in England including 80 children’s centres and transforms the lives of more than 190,000 children and young people every year.

Keystone and Rurals will be run by 4Children.  4Children is a national charity that works with children, young people and families to ensure they get locally based, joined up support from birth to 19.  They deliver childcare, youth activities and family support services in nurseries, schools and children centres across the country.

These organisations have been carefully selected for their experience and knowledge of children and families.  They already run a large number of children’s centres across the UK.

They will provide you and your family with an inspiring range of services and activities and have lots of ideas to make your experience of children’s centres a positive one.  We eagerly anticipate these exciting changes and I hope you look forward to them too.

If you would like further information please contact:

Ian Hands from Spurgeons on 07870 528282 or ihands@spurgeons.org
Nicola Clarke from the Children's Society on 0121 415 3692 or Nicola.Clarke@childrenssociety.org.uk
Marian Webb at Barnardo's on 0121 550 5271 or marian.webb@barnardos.org.uk
Tracey Lindsell at 4Children on 0207 512 2112 or Tracy.Lindsell@4children.org.uk