Children's Centre success in Essex for Spurgeons
Spurgeons, is delighted to announce its success in securing the contract to run 17 Children’s Centres in West Essex. The area covers Harlow, Epping Forest and Uttlesford providing support for hundreds of families with young children across the area.
Following what has been acknowledged across the children’s services sector as one of the most rigorous and robust tendering processes, Spurgeons’ CEO, Tim Jeffery said: “We are so pleased to have won this contract. Competition was intense with the top organisations in our sector chasing the four regional contracts, so we’re delighted that we have been able to demonstrate our excellence as a provider under these circumstances.
We know of the life changing difference that Children’s Centres make to the families who rely on them for help, advice, support and friendship. We are so proud of the work that our Children’s Centres carry out and look forward to being able to provide this exceptional service to families in West Essex.
We also look forward to welcoming new children’s services professionals into Spurgeons as well as working in partnership with Essex County Council and other partners in the area.”
Currently in England, almost 4million children live in poverty – that’s 1 in 3 - and recent research suggests that within 3 years this number will have increased by an additional half a million children, bringing the need for support for families with young children into sharp focus. Tim continued “Spurgeons believes Children’s Centres play a crucial part in addressing child poverty and is committed to helping families at greatest disadvantage as well as providing excellent under 5s care and wider support for all families. We look forward to working in West Essex and coming alongside these families; supporting and advising them and helping them to ensure the best possible start in life for their children.”
Spurgeons currently provides services in 40 Children’s Centres across the country and has recently won a tender in Solihull for four more. Together with these additional 17 in Essex the total number of Children’s Centres provided by Spurgeons in England is 61.
Spurgeons will begin providing these services from April 2012.