A NEW hub established to continue services previously provided by Carterton Children's Centre will be launched on Monday.

The children’s centre closed at the end of February after funding was withdrawn by Oxfordshire County Council.

A group made up of former children’s centre and town council staff, county councillors and members of the Royal Air Force, based at neighbouring RAF Brize Norton, came together to preserve the support and create Carterton Family Centre.

One of the members of the community interest organisation formed to retain the centre’s services is Jenny Withers, an RAF community development advisor.

She said “It is excellent news that funding has been secured to retain these crucial services in Carterton.

“The children’s centre provided vital support for both service and civilian families alike and it is extremely reassuring that this key provision will continue.”

The project received financial support from the town council, the Armed Forces Covenant, the RAF Benevolent Fund and county council.

The new organisation will initially operate from the town hall, the town's library, the Methodist Church and St John’s Church, until a permanent home becomes available in January next year.

The centre will offer universal services for families with babies and pre-school children, one-to-one support for parents, a summer holiday programme and antenatal support.

Jo Smith, the manager of the new centre said: “I am so pleased that people have worked together to make this happen for the families of Carterton.

“It is vital that, as a town, we retain universal services for all our families. This is a very exciting project to be involved with.

Town mayor Lynn Little added: “The key stakeholders have worked hard to provide this new and improved service that is now the Carterton Family Centre. I am more than happy to give this my full support for a successful future.”

Monday’s launch event will be attended by county council leader Ian Hudspeth, as well as the management team for the new centre, councillors, and representatives from RAF Brize Norton.

Families in the area are also invited to attend the launch, which will be held at Carterton Town Hall, in Alvescot Road at 1pm.

Services will start the following day. For a list of what's available, go to bit.ly/2nNcGi7