City hits school holiday schemes

By STUART DYE, education reporter

With only two days to go before the end of term, the country's largest city council has cancelled its school holiday programme funding.

The Auckland City Council has left 15 community centres with a frantic search for cash to prevent cuts to their programmes.

But out-of-school care organisations say the withdrawal is at such short notice that many will suffer.

Some will close altogether, others will have to charge big fees, and some will be forced to compromise the quality of care.

Sandy Thompson, executive director of the National Association of Out of School Care, said there were 1200 programmes throughout the country, but only the Auckland City Council had seen fit to cancel its funding. "The planning has all been done and then it's 'whammo', you're on your own," said Ms Thompson.

"No one is happy and we are not just going to roll over and let this happen."

The association is organising a meeting for all programme organisers on Thursday to draw battle lines.

Paul Heron, Auckland City Council's manager of leisure services, said councillors voted to cut the $94,000 given to holiday programmes from next year.

But officials decided to bring that forward and cut off money to 15 programmes eligible for a new stream of Government funding.

The remaining seven Auckland programmes not eligible would have their funding cut after Easter, though they would get help on how to get the Government money, said Mr Heron.

"We've had adverse comments about the short notice, but we feel all the programmes can go ahead."

The decision had been taken without consultation and without a vote by councillors.

Mr Heron also regretted the fact that it had been done at such short notice.

"It is not ideal. We made a decision and I'm not sure it was the right one," he said.

The money saved had not been targeted and would be redirected into general council running costs.

But organisers say that funding was not an added bonus to Government money.

"We were counting on it for the basics," said Cathy Hall, chairwoman of the Auckland Out of School Network.

The Government funding was for improving programmes and services over and above simple childcare, said Mrs Hall, who runs a programme in Ponsonby.

Organisers were now left in a position where it was too late to get the Government money in time to run the school holiday programme, she said.

As many as 2000 families are estimated to be affected by the funding cuts.

For organisers there is an extra bitter taste - many have already circulated a brochure to parents bearing the credit line: "Proudly supported by Auckland City Council."

The Child Poverty Action Group described safe centres for children as a "godsend" to parents who both have to work to make ends meet.

"Children who might otherwise have attended will be kept at home with unsuitable supervision because their parents can no longer afford to pay for them," said action group spokeswoman Janfrie Wakim.

She said Otahuhu's Riverside Community Centre had already been forced to double fees to $8 a day.