TREASURY MINISTER HAILS SUCCESS OF REDHILL SURE START CENTRE

Treasury Minister Dawn Primarolo praised the success of the Redhill Sure Start Centre in Stockton on Tees today as she met staff and parents during a visit to the centre.

Speaking at the Redhill Centre, which provides family support, parent outreach services and child and family health services to local families, Dawn Primarolo said:

“I am delighted to be meeting the staff and parents at the Redhill Sure Start Centre which is providing vital support for families in Stockton on Tees. The Sure Start initiative is an important part of the Government’s drive to abolish child poverty and improve opportunities for all parents.

“The wide range of services the Redhill Centre provides to families, including 50 childcare places, help local parents with bringing up children as well as developing their full potential in the workplace. These will be improved even further when it becomes one of the 2,500 new children’s centres, which bring together in one location a variety of services currently offered to young children, parents and carers.

“I am also pleased that many of the parents here are able to take advantage of support for childcare from new tax credits. Over 17,500 families in Stockton on Tees receive tax credits, with 28,700 children already benefiting. I would urge all parents who think they might be eligible to contact the Inland Revenue to ensure they claim their full entitlement.”

NOTES FOR EDITORS

1. The Redhill Centre covers the wards of Hardwick, Milehouse and Roseworth. It operates from the Redhill Centre and Ragworth Neighbourhood Centre as well as providing outreach services to Hardwick.

2. The centre provides family support and parental outreach services, child and family health services through existing mainstream providers working alongside the Sure Start team as well as support for children and parents with special needs.

3. The childcare element of the Working Tax Credit provides support for 340,000 families across the UK. On average they receive £50 a week extra support for childcare. Families who think they might be eligible should contact their local Inland Revenue Enquiry Centre, visit www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/taxcredits or call the helpline: 0845 300 3900 (0845 603 2000 in Northern Ireland).

4. The Paymaster General was visiting the Redhill Sure Start Centre as part of a visit to the North East which included opening the Inland Revenue Newcastle Contact Centre at Longbenton, Newcastle upon Tyne.

5. Media enquiries should be addressed to Rachel Gibbons at the Treasury press office on 020 7270 5185.

6. Non-media enquiries should be addressed to the Treasury Correspondence and Enquiries Unit on 020 7270 4558, or by e-mail to public.enquiries@hm-treasury.gov.uk.

7. This press release and other Treasury publications and information are available on the Treasury website. If you would like Treasury press releases to be sent to you automatically by e-mail you can subscribe to this service from the press release site on the website.