SureStart closure will have big impact on young families in Huthwaite

Research evidence demonstrates that poverty and life chances are predicated on experiences in the first five years.

Sure Start, introduced by the Labour government, has been shown to provide positive short-term and long-term impacts for families and society at large.

For Notts County Council to suggest Huthwaite is not deprived enough to need a centre, I would draw its attention to its own research (McCormick et al., 2017) which shows that 23.1 per cent of children in this community live in low income families, compared with 17.1 per cent of children across the county and 19.9 per cent of children across England.

This is a short sighted measure which will have serious and negative impacts for many young children and families in this community.

Dr Ruby Oates

Huthwaite