Campaigners' dismay at family hubs funding cut

Campaigners and families who use two family hubs have expressed disappointment that they will have their funding reduced.

Seashells Children and Families Centre in Sheerness and Millmead family hub in Margate were saved from closure on 13 March following a campaign to save them.

But Kent County Council (KCC) said it would only be able to provide £27,000 in funding to each site next year, leaving some families concerned that they would eventually lose access to the hubs.

A council spokesperson said it remains "committed to ensuring our children have the best start in life".

Family hubs support parents and children and additional help for young adults with special educational needs or disabilities.

Kelly, a mother who uses the Seashells centre, said: "I'm devastated with what has happened.

"I've got a four-week old baby and if all that goes then there is nothing for me.

"Losing that will be so hard on all the families who use it."

Withdrawing all funding from the hubs would have shaved about £425,000 off KCC's budget.

The initial plans were overturned after concerns were raised by Labour MP for East Thanet Polly Billington and the Bishop of Dover, The Right Rev Rose Hudson Wilkin.

Isle of Sheppey councillor Mike Whiting said the decision was a "shocking kick in the teeth", adding that he would be working to have the decision reviewed by the council's scrutiny committee.

A spokesperson for KCC said strict spending criteria for a grant it receives from the government meant it could only offer limited direct funding to Seashells and Millmead.

The council said: "The Department for Education and Department for Health and Social Care reserve the right to withhold or reduce the entire Year 4 Family Hub grant funding if KCC does not meet all spending criteria, therefore the council can't allocate more to Millmead and Seashells."

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