FUNDING for children’s centres, teen pregnancy help, short breaks for disabled children and other support for young people in Oxfordshire is predicted to drop to £9.5m by 2020.

National charity Action for Children predicts the decrease, representing a 69 per cent decline from the £30.7m given by government in the 2010/11 financial year.

The money, handed to local authorities by Westminster, is also used to fund services such as schemes to improve employability and skills.

Oxfordshire County Council has already said it will have to cut £6m from its budget for children’s centres.

Action for Children director of children’s services Emma Horne said the cuts would be “devastating” for children in Oxfordshire.

She said: “Governments have hacked away at the budget for early help, and we are set to see further reductions, which is shortsighted.

“Intervening when a crisis occurs instead of working at an early stage to prevent it from happening, has a devastating cost both in social and financial terms.

“The government has committed to improving children’s life chances, in particular, giving the most disadvantaged children the start they need.

“This report raises questions about how this objective will be achieved and whether local authorities will have the capacity to invest in services for children, young people and parents.”

The report, produced with the National Children’s Bureau and The Children’s Society, drew on planned spending figures from councils and analysis of central government funding.

Department for Education spokeswoman Kitty Dann said: “All children, whatever their background, deserve the best possible start in life – that’s why we are increasing funding for early years and childcare to over £6b by the end of the Parliament.

“This will be backed up with £100m to improve the way councils deliver services for families, but councils are ultimately responsible for what services are needed.”