Upset as Telford parents group forced to close

Families in Telford have run pre-school groups in Sutton Hill and Woodside.

Parents who have attended the group, known as Henry (Health, Education and Nutrition for the Really Young), say they are they are very upset that it has been forced to close.

Clair Holmes said she relied on the group when her two children were toddlers. Mrs Holmes, who lives in Sutton Hill and has two sons, six-year-old Luke and four-year-old Jack, said: "It has helped a lot of parents. It was particularly helpful to me with my youngest because he has got a number of problems."

Mrs Holmes, who is now on the group's committee, said some parents from Sutton Hill turned up to the area's community centre yesterday only to be told the group would be unable to take place.

She said: "The baby group is able to continue because it gets its funding from elsewhere but there will be no more group for the under fives.

"Quite a few of the mums won't be able to go somewhere else.

"It used to organise trips in the summer and theatre trips in the winter where parents only had to pay a few pounds, which are obviously going to stop."

Pat Partridge has been involved with the group for 20 years when it was two separate groups, the Woodside Family Group and Sutton Hill Family Partnership. About two and a half years ago, the groups were forced to amalgamate, due to financial pressures.

It runs the weekly group at Sutton Hill and another in Woodside on a Monday, which will now no longer go ahead.

She said: "We have never been in the red as a group, but all our funding has now gone and we've been forced to close.

"We would be very grateful if anyone feels they could help us with funding."

The group has applied for funding from Wolves Aid. If that funding comes through, Madeley Town Council has agreed to provide part funding, which will allow the group to continue for another year.

Anyone who would like to help can contact Pat Partridge on (01952) 585695 or email thepartridgenest@yahoo.com