'Life saving' children's centre facing closure

A "life-saving" centre for children with special needs and disabilities is facing closure after council bosses said its base was no longer fit for purpose.

Moving Senses, based at Southmead Children’s Centre in Whiston, Merseyside, provides activities and respite care and currently supports 50 children across Knowsley, Liverpool, St Helens and Sefton.

But parents said they have been left in limbo after Knowsley Council said the centre's temporary licence agreement would be terminated on 31 August.

The council said: "Unfortunately, the building is in a very poor condition and would need major investment to be made fit for future use."

The service, which operates from a council-owned building off Sherwood Drive, was founded seven years ago by Carmen Escalante-Callejo.

Ms Escalante-Callejo said: "We are so grateful for this space and we are going to be devastated if we have to go."

A petition has now been started to save the centre, which has been described as a "lifeline" for parents.

The council said: "All council services have already been moved out of the building, and we can’t allow service users to continue to operate out of a building in such a condition."

It said it had tried to find an alternative space but offers were "refused".

However, Ms Escalante-Callejo said the only viable option presented to Moving Senses was the use of a waste ground in Kirkby or another space called The Purple Hub which was deemed unsuitable due to concerns over security.

Louisa O'Riley uses Moving Senses for her son, six, who has autism and ADHD.

She said: "Our son cannot cope in a normal society because of a number of factors, so this centre is a safe space to come, we can do things with our daughter.

"Before we went here, we felt trapped in our house, we couldn't do normal things as a family."

The council said there was a range of other support services available through the Knowsley Local Offer.

But Ms Escalante-Callejo said parents had struggled to find alternative provision, being told there was a two-year waiting list.

In response, the council said: “We are aware that there is a waiting list for Short Breaks in view of high demand.”

Additional reporting by Elliot Jessett from the Local Democracy Reporting Service.

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