Please support our petition to Save Abbey Sure Start.

The education authority wants to close the building that Abbey Sure Start have been operating from for many years. This building is perfect for the many programmes that it runs on a daily basis. They say because it is joined onto another closed down school that it costs to much money to maintain.

A solution is to divert the electric and water and seal off a corridor to allow Sure Start to be cut off from the main building. As Sure Start is a charity it will then not be a cost to the Education Authority for rates as charities are exempt.

The purpose of Abbey Sure Start is to improve outcomes for young children and their families and reduce inequalities between families in areas with greatest need.

Abbey Sure Start helps to focus on parenting skills and the development of early years learning and education in areas that are included in the Noble indicators of areas of deprivation.

There is a growing evidence base on the importance of children’s development from the point of conception to age two, leading it to be called the ‘age of opportunity’

 A recent report, published by The Wave Trust has highlighted the need to:

 Intervene earlier to promote infant mental health and reduce the risk of child development being hampered by abuse, neglect, and parent-infant relationship difficulties.

Preventative interventions are more effective than reactive ones in addressing potential future problems.

We would like to ask the Minister to please understand that our community needs this service and to get involved at the level needed to secure a positive outcome for the whole community. The building in which Sure Start works from is the only suitable premises in the area and able to provide everything needed to surrounding areas also.