‘So proud’ - Hundreds of protesters march through South Shields calling for Stanley’s to be saved
Hundreds of protesters have marched through South Shields calling for Stanley’s to be saved.
The Save Our Stanley’s campaign has marched through South Shields town centre as they continue to call on South Tyneside Council to rethink proposed cuts to the South Tyneside Accredited Network for Learning in the Early Years (Stanley’s).
Dubbed the ‘Stanley’s Stomp’, marchers walked from South Shields’ Market Place to South Shields Town Hall on Saturday morning (July 18).
It comes after South Tyneside Council informed staff in June that there is a possibility that all Stanley’s centres across the borough could close - with a staff consultation period due to last until around the end of July.
‘A sight to behold’
The proposals prompted Joanna Taylor, a Hebburn mum-of-one, to launch a petition calling for the childcare provision to be saved, which has since transformed into a campaign backed by parents, staff, trade unions, politicians, local businesses and the wider community.
Speaking at South Shields Town Hall following the march, Joanna expressed how proud she is of the borough’s community for joining together to call on the local authority to reconsider its proposals.
She said: “This is just on another level and I wouldn’t even like to hazard a guess at how people have taken part.
“We were at the front guiding people through King Street and up to the town hall so when we turned around, it was just a sight to behold.
“The amount of people who have stood by us and came out to support us has just blown us all away.
“I feel proud of our community and I’m so proud that they’ve all come together for something so important for our little ones.
“We’re getting closer to the decision day and we need South Tyneside Council to realise that this isn’t just impacting the staff.
“I know it is a staff consultation but it is our children, our families, local businesses and the wider community who are all saying that we need this provision for our children.”
The Stanley’s Stomp is the third protest from the campaign group, who have previously gathered outside of the town hall and also placed 402 pairs of children’s shoes on the steps of the historic building.
‘My grandkids absolutely love Stanley’s’
Gavin Peterson, who has four grandchildren that attend Stanley’s, was among those to come out and show their support for the Save Our Stanley’s campaign.
The 52-year-old, from South Shields, revealed to the Shields Gazette that the proposed cuts have caused a lot of worry and uncertainty within his family.
He commented: “My grandkids absolutely love Stanley’s so I was gutted when I heard about the cuts.
“If they close the nurseries then everyone will be thrown at the hands of the private sector.
“I’ve got family members who are absolutely frantic at the moment because they don’t know what is going to happen.
“They’re worrying about if they will have to pack in work to look after the children.”