TAVISTOCK Area Children’s 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.

Barnardo’s has been managing the town’s children’s centre since it first opened in 2007. Now based in Abbey Rise, the service provides free support to parents with under-5s and has worked with more than 1,700 families and more than 2,300 children.

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

Cllr James McInnes, Devon County Council’s cabinet member with responsibility for children’s centres, said: ‘In line with its legal duty, the council is required to recommission any contract at the end of the contract period. 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 successfully re-securing the contract for South Hams and Teignbridge, alongside securing the West Devon area.

‘Since then, Action for Children has been working with Barnardo’s towards a smooth and seamless transition, due to take place on April 1. Staff working at the centre will be transferred across to the new provider and children and families who use the centre will be unaffected by this transfer.

‘We would like to thank Barnardo’s for providing a good service at the children’s centre.’

Barnardo’s gave praise to the Tavistock team which has transformed hundreds of lives.

The Tavistock centre not only supports families from the town itself, but also neighbouring villages, including Princetown, Yelverton, Woolwell, Roborough Bickleigh, Whitchurch, Milton Abbot and Lifton.

Free activities include parenting programmes, breast feeding peer support, cookery classes, baby massage and groups for carers and young parents as well as links with education, employment and training.

Positive outcomes included 88% of families reporting improved relationships and reduced isolation; 80% reporting improved mental health and 78% reporting increased confidence.

Barnardo’s regional assistant director Kerstin Neason said: ‘We are really sad to be saying good bye to all of the Tavistock team, but we are immensely proud of everything that they have achieved during our time working together.

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