The report, Peace and quiet disadvantage: insights from users and providers of children's centres in rural communities, published last week by the Commission for Rural Communities, evaluated the services provided by four rural children's centres. These were My Start Children's Centre in Ilfracombe, Devon, and Millon children's centre in Cumbria, which are both operated by Action for Children; Wiveliscombe children's centre in Somerset, which is operated by the Children's Society; and Wainfleet children's centre in Lincolnshire, a local authority-managed setting.
The report found that most families held positive views of children's centres, and less affluent families described them as essential to their well-being and their ability to cope with a range of challenging issues in their lives.
The main disadvantage cited for children's centres was that they do not open during evenings or weekends. Families also wanted more activities for their older children and disabled children, such as holiday schemes and clubs.
Transport was the service that most parents believed needed to improve. Bus drivers were singled out by many as unhelpful or aggressive towards parents with young children, and the design of buses was considered to be unsuitable for access for prams or pushchairs. Some parents on very low incomes without their own transport said they had no choice but to pay for taxis to get their weekly shopping because there was no bus route.
Tackling the lack of local employment was also found to be a high priority for parents. Less than half of all parents were in paid employment, and among those who did work, three-quarters were in part-time jobs.
Among workless families, 47 per cent reported chronic health problems and 57 per cent said that their children had additional needs or health problems.
Margaret Lochrie, executive director of Capacity, which carried out the research, said, 'If these problems are to be tackled successfully, rural poverty needs to be given more priority. Better transport links and subsidised fares for families would help more families to access key services.
'While children's centres are doing a good job, they could have an important role to play in helping out-of-work families to gain and sustain employment, including more support to gain qualifications, helping with transport, advising on benefits and tax credits, and helping to create local enterprise.'
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