Green Party

Sure Start, the scheme that supports some of the most deprived families by providing educational and health services alongside free childcare, is under renewed threat as Conservative Leader David Cameron signals that he would cut support to children and their families trapped in poverty.

On Monday, Cameron claimed that a child’s life chances were completely unrelated to their parents’ level of wealth and that Sure Start would face £200million worth of cuts under the Conservatives, as well as part-privatisation.

For Norwich’s Thorpe Hamlet Sure Start Centre, this is all too familiar. In 2007 the Conservative controlled County Council threatened to close its nursery on Wolfe Road, but was saved by a petition collected by parents and local Green Councillors and their supporters.

Adrian Ramsay, Deputy Leader of the Green Party and General Election Candidate for Norwich South, who helped save the nursery, will be visiting the Thorpe Hamlet Sure Start this Friday to pledge his commitment to support the continued operation and funding of all seven Norwich Sure Start Centres if he is elected as the local MP.

Councillor Ramsay said:

"Sure Start Centres like the one in Thorpe Hamlet are hugely important to local families and help ensure all children get a good start in life. The support, advice and sense of community for local parents is invaluable. Crucial to the success of the Sure Start Centres is the outreach workers, who ensure that parents know about and benefit from the service. Any proposals to cut the outreach workers or other aspects of Sure Start must be resisted. If elected as MP I will continue to fight for the Sure Start Centres and oppose any attempt to cut their funding."

Adrian Ramsay will be attending a drop in session at the centre to talk to parents and staff about the scheme’s services and facilities.

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