I was pleased to visit Battlehill Sure Start on Friday 15th May to see for myself the excellent work they are doing in supporting parents and their children. It was good to hear from parents how much they value the centre and the real help they offer with childcare, healthcare and other services for their children. 

Sure Start Children’s Centres make a massive difference to parents and under-fives up and down the country. We’ve recently marked the opening of the 3000th  Children Centre and we want to see a Sure Start in every community in the North East by 2010. All that would be put at risk by the Conservative Party’s proposed cuts, which would mean closing one in five Children’s Centres in North East. The reality is that 33 would have to close their doors and stop providing this much needed service.