A CHILDREN’S centre in Huddersfield could close and be moved to Leeds.
The NSPCC’s Shield project on New North Parade is a specialist service offering assessment and therapeutic work to children who display sexually harmful behaviour.
The centre’s closure could come as part of a new NSPCC national strategy to focus in on big cities.
Simon Cale, Chief executive of the National Children’s Centre in Huddersfield, said it was a ‘worrying’ move.
He said: “Any cuts at this time, when children need all the help they can get, is very worrying.
“Voluntary sectors that help children and families are working really hard to try and stay open.”
He said he hoped any plan to move the service out of Huddersfield would be reviewed in partnership with Kirklees Council.
A spokesman for the NSPCC said they were increasing the number of child protection practitioners on the ground across the UK.Š
“Part of this process is to ensure we have colleagues located where we can have the most impact on the greatest number of children.Š
“We will be focusing on locating our new local services into to a network of larger regional centres to maximise the flexibility of our staff and volunteers.”
The Huddersfield office will remain open until the end of 2010 before being re-located.
A spokesman added: “It is appreciated that this still leaves people with some uncertainty but we do need to ensure the decisions made are thoroughly researched and will have reached these conclusions by 2011/12.”
