Lib Dems push Councillor for assurances on Lambeth's children's centres

This week Lambeth resident and Liberal Democrat peer Baroness Floella Benjamin held a productive meeting with Councillor Jennifer Brathwaite, Lambeth Council’s cabinet member for Children & Young People, to discuss the proposed cuts to funding for children’s centres.

Baroness Benjamin has been a longstanding campaigner and advocate for children and was instrumental in the introduction of Sure Start centres.  She joined the local Lib Dem team to ask the council for assurances over the provision of services that are vital to the whole community, but especially important to the most vulnerable.

Baroness Benjamin recognised that the huge scale of central Government cuts have forced Lambeth Council to make some difficult decisions. She stressed the need for services to be sustainable and for good communication with parents and service users, and discussed options with Cllr Brathwaite for services to continue to be provided by schools and other organisations if council funding is reduced.

The local Lib Dem team will continue to work with Baroness Benjamin to hold the council to account and to advocate for children and young people.

The council are yet to finalise their plans for children’s centres – you can influence them by writing to your Councillor to support our calls for services to be protected, sustainable and for  any changes to be communicated effectively and with reassurance to parents and carers.