• FOR more than 30 years Whittington Park Community Association has played an important part in the community, delivering services for under-fives, including the Early Years Hub, the One O’Clock Club and the early-morning drop-ins which continue to be used by a large number of childminders.

These services are funded by Islington Council. Although grants have remained static for the last seven years, the additional funding needed has come as a result of WPCA’s room hire earnings.

Last year, the council started a review into the various under-fives support groups across the borough. This later became a cost-saving exercise which resulted in the WPCA being contracted to deliver only between 11-12 hours service per week from April 1.

This will come as a huge disappointment to many of the people who use our services, but we are keen to continue to provide local choices for parents and carers. As a result, we will deliver childminders’ services from 9am to noon on Wednesdays and Thursdays, and stay-and-play sessions on Wednesday and Thursday afternoons from 1pm or 3.30pm (or 1pm-4pm, to be confirmed).

This has been a difficult decision for myself and my staff, but I would like to reassure users that we remain committed to providing services to support children and families.

We welcome any suggestions, comments and recommendations by users. These can be emailed to earlyyears@whittingtonpca.org.uk (subject heading: EARLY YEARS HUB from 1.4.17). We will also have a suggestions box in the hub, and will review feedback at the end of June.

I’d like to thank all our users for their continued support, and we look forward to working together in 2017.

COURTNEY SHAPIRO
Chair, Whittington Park Community Association