Children’s centres to be run by charity

Reporter: JANICE BARKER
Date online: 25 June 2009

A NEW contract to run five children’s centres in Oldham will create 25 new jobs.

The Children’s Society has signed an agreement with Oldham Council to take over the running of the centres in Alexandra, Medlock Vale, Werneth, Shaw and Royton.

The two-year contract includes the job of new programme manager Shaheen Khawaja, who will be key to the centres’ development as they aim to expand capacity.

This is the first time that the Children’s Society will run children’s centres in Greater Manchester, although the organisation currently runs others around England.

The charity has been working in Oldham for over 20 years, with current projects including the Alexandra Youth Inclusion Programme (YIP), working directly with young people who have been identified as at risk of offending; the Resolve Children’s Counselling Team, which works with children affected by domestic abuse; and the Children’s Rights Service, promoting the rights of young people in care.

The five centres, out of a total of 14 in Oldham, have been opened and run by the council for one year.

Rob Jackson, assistant director of the Children’s Society, said: “We are delighted to be able to make a continued difference to the lives of children in Oldham.

“We hope to deliver a high-quality service to the people of Oldham, meeting their needs and making childhood better for a large number of children and families.”

Councillor Kay Knox, cabinet member for children, young people and families, said: “The Children’s Society has a wealth of proven expertise and I am certain that through this venture they will have a tangible impact on improving the quality of life for many residents in Oldham.”