A family centre under threat has been thrown a lifeline by councillors, writes Mark Templeton.

Oxfordshire County Council slashed £20,000 from the Kidlington Family Centre budget - putting its future in doubt.

Councillors agreed to hand over the centre to a new independent organisation, the Kaleidoscope Centre for Families, but the two existing members of staff were unhappy that their employment conditions could change.

Now the county's Social Services committee has agreed the two will be kept on its roll, to safeguard their conditions, although salaries will be paid by the new centre. The centre would have closed next March if the staff problem had not been resolved and the new organisation not put in place.

Andrew Hornby-Smith, who represents Kidlington North ward on Cherwell District Council and has helped fight to keep the centre open, described the decision as "fantastic news".

He said the decision came just as the family centre was about to be officially recognised as a charity.

The centre had been working hard to attract grants, both locally and from the National Lottery, the New Opportunities Fund and the Childcare Support Fund. The centre serves about 200 families and runs information sessions.

They also allow families referred by the Social Services Department to meet there and play with their children who have been taken into care.

The centre is also planning a new creche, out of school activities and hire of its portable centre.

Story date: Friday 17 December

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