Ards and North Down Council has been accused of “failing families” after the local authority was overwhelmed with applications for children’s summer schemes.
Parents and a North Down Assembly Member have made complaints about the number of children turned away from summer schemes over the past few weeks, as the council failed to manage a larger number of applications than suspected, despite raising the number of places in the schemes this year.
North Down Alliance MLA Andrew Muir, a former Ards and North Down councillor and Mayor, called for the council to “intervene and address” the lack of sufficient places at Redburn summer scheme in Holywood.
Read more: Ards and North Down gets new Alliance mayor
He said: “Local parents are outraged at the news that many young people are to be denied places on the long awaited summer scheme after two years of lockdown restrictions.
“A significant number of parents in Holywood are extremely disappointed and frustrated that their child has been denied a space at the scheme operating from Redburn Community Centre.
“Many of these families live close-by and have availed of the important and popular scheme in the past. Applications were made to the online registration system as soon as it went live, but yet their children have been unfairly denied a place, with one parent finding that all places were gone within sixteen minutes.
“ Ards and North Down Borough Council are failing these local families. After two difficult years of the pandemic so many children were looking forward to attending but are now left devastated.
“The council needs to urgently rectify the situation ensuring that children unfairly denied a place are accommodated in the Redburn Summer Scheme giving them the opportunity to engage in safe play and fun activities in a supported environment alongside much needed respite for parents during the busy summer holiday period.”
The summer schemes are for children between 5 and 11 years old, each with its own varied programme of activities and events including arts and crafts, games, street hockey/bowls, dancing, and trips.
Ards and North Down Borough Council replied to the charge stating it “significantly increased the number of spaces available in council summer schemes this year, and added two new venues.”
It added: “Unfortunately, demand has exceeded capacity due to their popularity.
“A total of 768 families applied for 672 available spaces, with some families requesting multiple spaces for multiple children. An additional 288 spaces were available on Community Partner Summer Schemes, which are part-funded by the council, bringing the total number of spaces to 960.
“We understand the frustration felt by all those who have been unable to secure a place but would encourage them to investigate alternative schemes. These include provisions from the council's Leisure Services and Sports Development, the Education Authority (dates to be released soon), as well as a significant number of private schemes running throughout the Borough.”
For more information on these services visit here
Read more: Ards and North Down Borough calls for Stormont cash for Queen's Jubilee parties
Read more: Ards North Down Council appeals to Stormont to give them regeneration powers
To get the latest breaking news straight to your inbox, sign up to our free newsletter.
