The mass closure of council-run centres, and the loss of specialist staff, have left many vulnerable families unable to access vital early-years support, trade union Unison has said.
They added that children’s centre closures across England have "devastated communities and left vulnerable families without access to vital education and health support".
Freedom of Information requests by the union reveal that over a third of council-run children’s centres in England have closed since 2010 when the government implemented austerity measures and slashed councils’ financial support.
There were at least 3,106 council-run children’s centres across England in 2010 to 11. But some local authorities had locked the doors of 1,168 centres by the end of March 2023, the union’s figures show.
Local authorities in the South East (68 per cent) and West Midlands (59 per cent) closed the highest proportion of their children’s centres between 2010/11 and 2022/23.
Meanwhile, three county councils topped the list of authorities that closed the most council-run children’s centres. These were Essex (74), Hampshire (70) and Surrey (39).
Across England’s city, unitary, metropolitan and borough councils, Birmingham (38 closures) shut down the most sites. It was followed by Shropshire (23), Somerset (20), Sandwell (20) and Stockport (17).
The data was released yesterday at Unison’s annual local government conference in Brighton.
Unison's head of local government, Mike Short, said: “Every region of England has closed vast numbers of council-run children’s centres – further victims of the government’s misplaced austerity drive.
“Children’s centres are the lifeblood of local communities. They support working and vulnerable parents, and they provide essential education and developmental support to the nation’s children from birth to school age and beyond.
“This research has exposed the harsh reality of centres closing. From leaving vulnerable families in deprived areas and isolated communities beyond the reach of support teams, to cutting the specialist staff who prevent at-risk children from being taken into care.
“Cuts to these crucial services merely create more problems and costs for the future. Ministers and council leaders should invest in children’s centres as part of wider plans to stabilise council finances and provide a boost to parents and youngsters.”
Following last week's local elections, the political proportionality of the Local Government Association (LGA) has been confirmed.
A £25 million road refurbishment programme is set to begin, funding 22 projects across Wales’ strategic road network.
The mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, is to announce that City Hall is considering releasing part of London’s green belt to enable development.
The Welsh government have announced a £31.5 million boost for nine local authorities to help deliver projects such as Y Storfa in Swansea, the Queen’s Market in Rhyl and the demolition of Newport Leisure Centre.
A new coalition made up of City Hall, Government, local councils, the London Fire Brigade and regulatory bodies will lead vital work to end London&
Quality is everything, value is essential, and service is priceless.
We’re an industry-leading trade supplier of quality outdoor and indoor furniture, offering unrivalled care and service for our customers. LeisureBench was established in 2001, and we have grown into one of the country’s leading suppliers of outdoor products.
Following a period of remarkable growth and momentum, Safety, Health and Wellbeing Live is making a powerful move—relocating its southern edition to the iconic London Olympia on 18–19 June 2025.
Housing 2025 is coming to Manchester Central on 24-26 June. Welcoming everyone in the housing and wider living sector under one roof, As the only place the whole UK housing sector comes together every year, it is where the sector will discuss and collaborate, identify solutions and speak with one voice to those framing the debate.
In January 2025, the Secretary of State for Science, Innovation and Technology announced a new ‘AI Opportunities Action Plan’ to encourage an increase in AI adoption across the UK. What will the Government’s plans for AI mean for local authority teams? How will emerging technologies affect environmental health services in the future?
At Words of World, we specialise in professional translation and interpreting, d
Experience and unforgettable 1 hour journey through maritime history and breathtaking landscapes.
This year's Safety & Security Event Series drew a crowd of 56,115 professionals to Birmingham's NEC
For those involved in debt recovery, supporting engagement is critical, not just to resolve outstanding debts, but to protect vulnerable citizens, improve financial resilience, and uphold trust in public services. In this article, the CSA's head of policy, Daniel Spenceley explores why overcoming disengagement is so crucial, what barriers remain, and how collective action, including better financial education and tackling online misinformation, can create a more supportive environment for those in financial difficulty.
