A vital support service for vulnerable Ayrshire families has been placed ‘under review,’ sparking concerns for parents.
Fears are growing over the future of services which are a lifeline to some households in Girvan and South Carrick.
Ayrshire Live can reveal that South Ayrshire Council chiefs have opted not to renew the contract of the existing service operated by charity Children 1st .
It is understood the contract for the service provider is up in March, with sources claiming that up to nine jobs could be placed ‘at risk’.
The move has been described as ‘catastrophic’ by parents who make use of the service run out of Girvan Primary School.
In a bid to salvage the service, one parent has launched an online petition to save Children 1st Girvan. The petition, launched earlier this week, has already been backed by 300 signatures.
The petition reads that Children 1st exists to "protect children and from abuse, neglect and harm."
The service is also said to provide financial support and help with fuel poverty, as well as putting on coffee mornings at the primary school.
Last year the Children 1st day care service was given the thumbs up watchdog the Care Inspectorate.
Staff who run the service from Girvan Primary were praised for creating a "welcoming and nurturing" space for kids. The service was marked as 'good' after an unannounced visit by inspectors in November.
The parent who launched the petition said as a user of the service they were left “devastated” that the service provider will stop working in the community come the spring.
The petition goes on to say that families have built “strong bonds” with Children 1 st workers and that children would “struggle to cope” with learning to trust new workers.
A spokesperson for South Ayrshire Health & Social Care Partnership said: “Children 1st have been commissioned by the South Ayrshire Health & Social Care Partnership to deliver Family Support services in the Girvan area for a number of years.
“The commissioning contract for this service comes to an end in March 2023, as with all contracts which come to the end of their contractual period, the delivery of Family Support in Girvan is under review to ensure the best support possible is offered to the families of Girvan and South Carrick area.”
It is understood that a replacement service may be drafted in to take up the important role Children 1st has played in the community.
The Health & Social Care Partnership added: “We are reviewing all available options and are committed to the continued delivery of family services in the local area.
“The intention is to ensure the continued investment in funding local services which meets the expressed need of the local community and demonstrate best possible use of Public Finances.
"The South Ayrshire Health & Social Care Partnership will work with providers to ensure that no families will be left without the necessary support during this review process.
“The Family Support service is currently the only service commissioned by the South Ayrshire Health & Social Care Partnership which is provided by Children 1st.
Fiona McBride, Assistant Director Children and Families Services, Children 1st said: “Families have made it clear how strongly they need and value the support that Children 1st offer in Carrick.
"We are delighted that the council are listening to the voices and views of local families.
“We are having ongoing discussions with the council about how to best to continue to offer families the support they need, at a time when we all know how much pressure they are under.”
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