City Tories in call over HeadStart programme
The leader of Wolverhampton Council has been challenged to “put his words into action” and commit to funding a programme tackling emotional and mental health problems in children.
Councillor Ian Brookfield has pledged to plough more funds into youth services in the city in a bid to drive youngsters away from crime.
Now Tories in the city have urged him to start by committing funding for the HeadStart programme after its £9.5 million grant from the national Big Lottery Fund expires in 2021.
In a consultation the service was credited with “an increase in social and emotional skills in children, young people and parents/carers” as well as giving “a greater sense of community ‘belonging".
Tettenhall Regis Conservative councillor Udey Singh, who sits on the Children, Young People and Families Scrutiny Panel, said: “The HeadStart programme has been very successful in preventing emotional and mental health problems emerging in our children.
"The consultation findings clearly show that its activities have had a positive impact, and need to be sustained.
"Having emotional resilience allows children to go into adulthood with a greater chance of getting a job and enjoying a healthy life.
“Councillor Brookfield has said that he wants to prioritise youth services – now he needs to put his words into action, and commit to funding this valuable scheme so that it can continue beyond 2021.
"It is not enough for Labour to draw up a wish list – they are in control of the council and it’s down to them to act.”
The consultation is up for discussion at a meeting next week.
