CITY MP Christine Russell had a spring in her step when she visited a Chester children’s centre.
The centre, at the university campus on Kingsway, is one of a network of four across the city which offer integrated provision for young children and their families including childcare, health, family and support services.
Their aim is to improve outcomes for all youngsters through the creation of seamless services with a focus on early intervention and preventative work.
Other centres are located in Blacon, Lache and at Victoria Infant School on Cheyney Road with Mrs Russell describing the opening of the first, in Blacon as “a dream come true”.
It was the culmination of a 30-year campaign by the MP, now parliamentary private secretary to children’s minister Beverley Hughes, to improve children’s facilities.
“When I first arrived in Chester with a six-week-old babe in arms, there were no established childcare facilities and support for new parents was absolutely minimal.
“It was my personal experience as a parent that led me into local politics, campaigning for better facilities for young children and their parents such as crèches, nursery education, safe play areas and out-of school activities for older children,” she said.
At Kingsway, Mrs Russell met parents and children in the Stay & Play nursery and toured the building meeting parents-to-be in the midwifery clinic and talking to school health staff, children’s staff from Cheshire County Council and university vice chancellor Prof Tim Wheeler.
