OKEHAMPTON and Hatherleigh’s children centre will be under new management from next month as Devon County Council has accepted a new contract bid — but staff, children and families should be unaffected by the change.

Children’s charity Barnardo’s has been managing the Okehampton children’s centre since it first opened in 2007 and the nearby Hatherleigh children’s centre since 2011.

They merged last year to cover a vast rural area including Chagford, Sticklepath, Meldon, Lydford, Bridestowe and Northlew.

The services provide free support to parents with under fives and has worked with more than 2,200 families and more than 3,000 children.

The current contract with Devon County Council comes to an end on March 31, after which a new provider will take responsibility for the team.

Free activities have included parenting programmes, breastfeeding peer support, cookery courses, healthy eating, baby massage and groups for young parents, lone parents and dads. The team also provided links to education, employment and training.

One parent said: ‘The children’s centre is a valuable asset to our town. I would have struggled without their support and guidance.’ Another added: ‘The children’s centres were absolutely invaluable to me. The staff provided vital services.’

Barnardo’s has praised the team who run Okehampton and Hatherleigh’s children centres for transforming hundreds of lives.

Barnardo’s regional assistant director Kerstin Neason said: ‘We are really sad to be saying goodbye to all of the Okehampton and Hatherleigh teams, but we are immensely proud of everything that they achieved during our time working together.

‘We hope that families will continue to access the service when it becomes the responsibility of a new provider from April 1, so that parents can continue to give their children the best possible start in life.’

Cllr James McInnes, county councillor for Hatherleigh and Chagford and Devon County Council’s cabinet member with responsibility for children’s centres, said: ‘The West Devon children’s centre contract comes to an end on March 31 2016, and in November a rigorous procurement process resulted in Action for Children securing the contract for the West Devon area.

‘Barnardo’s has been working with Action for Children towards a smooth and seamless transition, due to take place on April 1, when staff working at the centre will be transferred across to the new provider.

‘Children and families who use the centre will be unaffected by this transfer and we would like to thank Barnardo’s for providing a great service.’

Call Okehampton Children’s Centre on 01837 658621 or Hatherleigh Children’s Centre on 01837 811190 for further information on the changes.

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