Cuts - London Councils grants review, and responses to the Comprehensive Spending Review

Our 4-year London childcare project, which includes a number of activities mentioned in this e-bulletin, was initially funded by London Councils until 31 August 2012.  In July we were informed that funding is now only guaranteed until 31 March 2010, pending a review of their full grants programme. We are currently drafting our response to the consultation, detailing the benefit that we have witnessed to childcare providers and others working in the sector, and families, and why we feel it is such an important project to protect.  It you would like to contribute to our submission please contact Deborah Brodie - dbrodie@daycaretrust.org.uk 

London Councils has also just published a response to the 2010 Comprehensive Spending Review, including a briefing on the impact of the cuts on London boroughs. Daycare Trust has produced its own national policy briefing on 'The impact of the Spending Review on childcare'.

Outreach to London's BME communities - and top tips

We have now produced a briefing sheet on 'Outreach to London's BME communities - and top tips'.  We were able to use some of the experiences shared by boroughs from across London at three very successful workshops we organised on 'Understanding and reaching out to London's BME communities'.  The briefing sheet is also available on our website.

Debt prevention and management

Our half-day 'Debt prevention and management' workshop has been extremely popular, so we are running it several times.  We still cannot fulfil demand, so will explore further ways that we can support providers in this key area.  One thing we will do is produce a briefing sheet which will talk about how to work effectively with families, who are at risk of becoming, or are already behind with childcare payments, and give some top tips.

Useful London websites

European Cities Against Child Poverty Network - an EU-wide network tackling child poverty, involving Greater London Enterprise, London Development Agency and London Councils. 
London Play - promoting improved play spaces and services. 
Young London Matters - a London approach to Every Child Matters. 
Childcare Affordability Programme - The Childcare Affordability Programme, helping families get into work.
London Child Poverty Network - set up by the Government Office for London and London Councils for local authorities and partners to share good practice, discuss local issues and to support joint approaches.  
London Councils - lobbies the government and others on behalf of its 33 member councils, for a fair share of resources, and to protect and enhance council powers. It develops policies & helps boroughs to improve services. 
London Development Agency (LDA) - working to deliver the Mayor's vision for London to be a sustainable world city with strong, long-term economic growth, social inclusion and active environmental improvement. 
London's Poverty Profile - includes regular London poverty data and analysis, put together by the Trust for London.
Greater London Authority (GLA) - aiming to provide strategic direction for the future of London, and overseeing some cross-London services. 

Your London news

If you have London news to share, please email Deborah Brodie, London Childcare Project Coordinator, on dbrodie@daycaretrust.org.uk or telephone 020 7940 7512 (direct Mon-Thurs) / 020 7940 7510 (switchboard).
www.daycaretrust.org.uk
Daycare Trust, 2nd Floor, Novas Contemporary Urban Centre, 73-81 Southwark Bridge Road, London, SE1 0NQ

We hope that readers find this bulletin useful, and welcome suggestions.

The London childcare providers network project is funded by London Councils.