Rogerson to meet minister over schemes for children in North Cornwall
North Cornwall Liberal Democrat MP, Dan Rogerson, today questioned Beverley Hughes, the Minister for Children and Families over crucial funding for North Cornwall SureStart and Cornwall Children's Fund. The minister agreed to meet a delegation from Cornwall to discuss future funding.
Mr Rogerson said:
"Both projects have been doing excellent work in North Cornwall, but they are incurring increased costs when compared with schemes in urban areas because they need to offer their services in several towns and villages."
"There is also the question of what will happen to all their work when funding disappears in 2008. I look forward to meeting the Minister to hearing what she intends to do to solve these problems."
Arwen Folkes, Vice-Chair of the Sure Start North Cornwall Partnership Board, said:
"Since the beginning of the Sure Start North Cornwall project we have battled with the problem of running a rural programme on what appears to be an urban budget. We are committed to building our Children's Centres and delivering services effectively but find it frustrating that other Sure Start projects (especially in Urban locations) are able to deliver far more due to far more generous and appropriate budgets."
"As a parent and campaigner in North Cornwall I am very aware of the problems created by the lack of consideration to the needs of rural communities and I am absolutely delighted that our campaign has now got this far. The opportunity to present our case to the Children?s Minister is just what we have hoped for and we look forward to presenting our case and showing the short film we have made which highlights our case perfectly."
"Of course, the issues faced by Sure Start North Cornwall and Children?s Fund are by no means new to North Cornwall, as the issue of rural budgets set by government in an urban location is age old, but we really do hope to try and effect some sort of change and increase awareness through this meeting. We are very grateful to Dan Rogerson for his support with this campaign."
Dominic Newton, Information Officer of Cornwall Children?s Fund, said:
"In North Cornwall, Cornwall Children's Fund has worked hard to overcome issues of social, economic and geographical isolation and it would be a great shame for that work to be lost should funding for the programme end in 2008."
Notes to editors:
– North Cornwall SureStart can be contacted through Arwen Folkes (Vice Chair)/Linda Probert (Acting Programme Manager) on 01208 262 960
– Cornwall Children?s Fund can be contacted on 07968 024 261
