Paradise Park Children’s Centre could shut in July

STAFF at the Islington Play Association have warned that “vital” community services could “disappear” if they are shut down, after threats of redundancy and closures were made.

The Tribune understands that the charity’s trustees and leadership team issued a “risk letter” to all 29 of its staff over the weekend, informing them that Paradise Park Children’s Centre would be shutting down on July 22, and that it was likely they would lose their jobs.

They were first warned in an “unofficial” meeting with the trustees, before the official email arrived just days later explaining that the council had been ordered by the trustees to shut the organisation down.

The children’s centre is owned by the council, which awards contracts to IPA to manage the site, as well as four adventure playgrounds. The Town Hall said they were “extremely disappointed” at the way IPA had conducted themselves, and cited “serious financial trouble” as the reason for the imminent closure.

A petition signed by over 800 people has circulated online calling on the senior leadership and trustees of the charity to reverse the decision and protect the services and staff. Parents have also appealed to the council to intervene and save the service.

The charity’s ongoing financial difficulties have been publicly available for some years. In 2024, the Tribune reported that staff across the adventure playgrounds were issued an ultimatum: to choose between a 20 per cent pay cut or redundancy.

Staff within the char­ity’s finance department told the Tribune that consistent “mismanage­ment and incompetence” from the trustees and board had seen them plunge into “entirely preventable” difficulties. They say they have produced a fully costed alternative plan, which they are calling for the council to review in a bid to save the organisation.

Cinzia Tassinari, Paradise Park children’s centre’s deputy manager, said: “I’ve been working here 14 years. This centre has such an important history in the borough.

Cinzia Tassinari

“Just thinking about the fact that is going to disappear makes my heart bleed. We are so worried about what can happen next. Instead of engaging with us about what we would like to see, or giving us any direction, we have been cut out and the trustees have just made their own decision to close.”

Joy Abegunde, the manager of the centre, added: “I feel what led to this was a lack of vision, a lack of trustee communication and a lack of a proper plan.

“Yes, there are financial problems, but we need to look for ways to solve that together, we are like a family here.

“We need to think how we can face this challenge as a family, but I feel like there has been a communication breakdown with the trustees.

“Our mental health has been massively affected by this, and we’ve received absolutely no support.”

A group of parents who use the services have joined the staff’s calls to pause the closure and consider alternative pathways.

Jara Payne, a member of the group, said: “Paradise Park Nursery is a vital community asset, staffed by a wonderful group of educators, some of whom have been there for decades, and who care for our children with warmth and professionalism.

“As a parent body, we are devastated to hear that the staff’s jobs, and the nursery itself, are at risk.

“Our concern is not only the upheaval this will cause for our children, but also the loss of such a special, council-funded community institution.”

The group of parents said they will do “everything in their power” to fight the closures and secure a lasting future for IPA.

A spokesperson for Islington Council said: “We have repeatedly sought assurances of IPA’s plan of action and how it will communicate this to parents, but have not received a satisfactory response.

“We understand parents’ concerns about the disruption this will cause and are reaching out to all affected families to support them to find alternative childcare best suited to their individual needs.”

A spokesperson for the IPA board of trustees said: “We understand there’s been lots of speculation about the future of IPA and we’re working with expert advisors to find a way forward. We will be posting an update on our website soon at islingtonplay.org.uk”