Posts Tagged ‘Young people’

Revised 14th December 2009

Sure Start was introduced by our Labour Government.  

The Children's Centre where Sure Start is based. A great Seacombe asset under a Labour Government.

Brought in to ameliorate and remedy more than a decade of under 5s neglect, following the dark years of the Thatcher/Major Conservative governments, Sure Start has been of immense benefit to children and young families all over the country; nowhere more than in Seacombe.

The Tory attitude to children’s welfare was demonstrated by Mrs Thatcher when as Education Minister she notoriously ended the daily milk allowance given to all children under a previous  Labour Government.  Older readers will recall the widespread children’s slogan at the time: ‘Tory Thatcher, milk snatcher.’

Should David Cameron ever lead a government in this country then measures already revealed as Tory policy in their publication ‘Helping new families’ would demonstrate their cynicism. They intend to cut £200 million a year from Children’s Centres to spend elsewhere.    This they describe as ‘helping’ families as though by attaching the positive term ‘helping’ to a savage cut they will in some way win over the public mind.   

Their planned funding reduction would cause many Sure Start centres to close at a time when their leader has declared that they will give enormous tax cuts to the millionaires such as the bankers and financiers who led the world to economic collapse.  There are 14 millionaires in Cameron’s shadow cabinet.

As many as four of Labour’s Sure Start Centres could be lost on Wirral. 

But why should the truth get in the way of Tory propaganda?  A Wallasey Tory Councillor (who should know better)  has raised a motion to Council fancifully alleging that the Council intends to introduce huge cuts to Sure Start. It’s not true and she knows it’s not true.

 Here is the truth:

• No Sure Start Centre has had any funding reduced – and the Tory lady knows that very well.
• No future Sure Start plans are threatened in any way -  and the Tory lady knows that very well.
• The Labour Government provided full year funding for the second phase of Sure Start – and the Tory lady knows that very well.
• Funding left over from the previous year has not been taken away but has been used precisely to fund activites for under 5s – and the Tory lady knows that very well.
• These additional activities for under 5s will also attract Sure Start funding – and the Tory lady knows that very well.
• Savings have occured because the Council was able to use outstanding Sure Start grant for activities that would have otherwise had to be funded by taking resources from other areas – and the Tory lady knows that very well.

Labour created it. Labour will protect it. Would you ever trust the Tories with it?

Can it be that what the Tory lady has grasped best of all is that smoke screens are needed by her Party because the reality is so utterly different? 

According to this absurd Tory logic their way of  ‘helping’  families is to support them in the way a rope supports a hanging man.

John and Adrian were there to meet the Respect bus in Brougham Road this morning, together with Adrian’s Welsh Collie ‘Bandy’ and English Springer ‘Daphne’ on their way for their morning walk.   The Councillors are supporting the ‘Don’t Give a Dog a Bad Name initiave – particularly important when dog fouling is such an issue in Seacombe.  There are no inconsiderate dogs – only inconsiderate owners. 

The bus, with its dedicated team of Officers will also visit Percy Road and Sherlock Lane later today.  Even for this early event quite a number of residents came by and welcomed its presence – it is particularly attractive to young people for the way it encourages youth participation in lots of activities and gives them an opportunity to meet and discuss issues affecting them.  But when the kids are in school the older generation are making full use of the information sources on the bus and calling in for a chat with representatives of the several agencies on board.

Following the best exam results for years Oldershaw pupils are achieving at a remarkable level. 

This good news added greatly to MP Angela Eagle’s pleasure when she opened the new wing at 3.00 pm today with a fine speech in which she congratulated Head Teacher Steve Peach and his staff, but most of all the pupils for their achievements.

Adrian and John attended as did councillors from other parties together with Deputy Mayor Alan Jennings.  Adrian is seen here with Angela shortly after her speech.  This is the only photograph we have of the event, but we hope more will reach us and if so we will put them on – in particular we would like to show the one of Angela cutting the ribbon in the formal opening ceremony. 

Whilst waiting for the event to begin guests were treated to some delightful choral and solo singing by young musicians – a great tribute to the excellence the school is achieving.