West Belfast families say they are "devastated" to be told that the "brilliant" after-school club their children attend will close next month.
Letters have been sent out to the families of those who attended the after-school club and summer scheme at the Saint Vincent de Paul Mountainview Centre in Turf Lodge telling them that it will be closing on March 11.
It has said that the decision was made due to a reduction in the numbers of families using the childcare services at the centre.
The centre has been providing a childcare service for the community for the past 21 years, and 16 families and 18 children will be impacted by its closure.
SVP has said that the six members of staff providing childcare at the centre have been provided with a redundancy package.
Concerned families have spoken to Belfast Live about the closure of the service saying they are "devastated" and have "no idea" how their children will be looked after, believing they have not been given enough time to find a replacement childcare service.
Leah Smyth, who's son Oisin, 7, attends the after-school club and summer scheme said it had played a huge part in boosting the young boys confidence and cannot believe that it will be closing in a matter of weeks.
She said: "The after-school club has been such an important part of our lives since Oisin started going to it. Every morning when he knows he is going he is very excited and it has been so helpful for me as a working parent knowing he has somewhere safe to go after school until he is collected.
"He has had a bit of speech delay and the staff there have been brilliant in helping him to build up his confidence and the experiences that he has had there have been so good for him.
"To be told that the service will be stopped in a few weeks time has been devastating to all of the families that have been using it. We do not know what we are going to do moving forward because we are all working families who really relied on the after-school club.
"I also really feel for the staff at the centre who have been so good with all of the children and really had such a positive impact on their lives."
Mairead Carleton's six-year-old daughter also attends the after-school club and said the decision to shut it down has come as a huge surprise for parents.
She said: "No one had any idea that the after-school club and summer scheme were at risk, so to receive a letter this morning telling us that it is closing down in March has been a huge shock to us all.
"We have been told that it is due to a lack of numbers using it, but there have been parents trying to access the service over the past few months that have said they were refused, so there is clearly a demand in the area for it.
"The after-school club has been vital for all of the parents using it because we all work and need somewhere safe and supportive for our children to go. It is very difficult to find childcare because everywhere is usually full, and now only having six weeks to find somewhere new will be a real challenge to us all."
West Belfast People Before Profit MLA Gerry Carroll said: "A few parents have been in contact with me to express their dismay and concern about news they have received that St. Vincent De Paul is due close the Mountainview Centre in Turf Lodge next month .
"This is a vital service which provides an essential out of hours support for parents who need childcare assistance.
"It’s unclear at this time why SVP have made this decision beyond having a “review” of their services. However, what is clear- this service is needed in our communities. Families in West Belfast need these centres to remain open and even extended given the longer hours many parents find themselves working.
"In addition to losing this service, I’m concerned about job losses in our community and those who work in this sector.
"As a matter of urgency, I will be contacting SVP to express our opposition to this closure and the loss of a vital service for Turf Lodge and wider West Belfast."
A spokesperson for St Vincent de Paul said: “Following a recent review of its childcare service in Belfast, the difficult decision has been made to close the St Vincent de Paul Childcare Centre, Mountainview, Belfast, on 11 March 2022.
“The closure will impact on 18 children from 16 families and SVP has identified a number of childcare facilities in the locality which have the capacity to provide immediate, alternative care and are supporting families in this regard.
“St Vincent de Paul provides a network of support for the local community in West Belfast through its 20 Visitation Conferences in the area and shall continue to offer this assistance to those families directly impacted. Parents will be advised to contact 028 9035 1561 should they wish to avail of these support services.
“A redundancy package has been provided to the six staff currently employed at the centre in line with the Society’s statutory and internal obligations.”
