Celebrations as children's centres complete six months of success

The centres at Boney Hay and Springhill schools were facing the axe until a group of mothers and grandparents started a petition to save them.

Staffordshire County Council first earmarked the two Burntwood centres for closure a year ago but after the community rallied behind them both were taken over as a social enterprise.

County Councillor Sue Woodward lobbied for an extension, which was approved and gave Esther Allen and a group of friends six months to come up with alternative plans.

The Spark group was formed in September to give parents and grandparents the chance to run the centres themselves.

Spark director Mrs Allen said: "We've done everything from funding the leases, sorting running costs, sourcing resources and organising activities.

"We've reached an important milestone in being open six months and we are so pleased all of the services that were available when it was a children's centre have been maintained. Not only that but we are growing all the time, with extra activities and groups being added every month.

"It's been a steep learning curve for the four directors as we had never been involved in a voluntary community organisation before, let alone running the two centres, while we are also doing our 'day jobs' of nurse, teacher, social worker and accountant.

"But it's been fantastic to see the centres so busy and well used by families and it makes all the hard work worthwhile."

Spark's main aim was to create useful community hubs with a range of activities and services available for the whole area.

Mrs Allen said: "

We are lucky to have lots of passionate volunteers on board that care deeply about our town."