EMOTIONS ran high at Potters Gate Children’s Centre’s last official event before its closure in September.

Staff and families got together to celebrate ten successful years together with its annual Summer Fun morning.

It was clear the centre had made a lasting impression on families, who hailed the support given to them over the years.

Jasmine Buckley, who began visiting the centre when her daughter Anaiyah was one month old, spoke to the Herald about how the Potters Gate team helped her during difficult times: “I suffer with mental health, so I struggled getting out of the house when Anaiyah was little, so they encouraged me to come.”

Jasmine added the team always went out of their way to help, took part in home visits and even delivered food parcels to her house.

Parent Amy Crook also spoke fondly of the “caring and lovely” staff, who provided help with her daughter Grace, aged five, after she was diagnosed with Williams Syndrome. She said: “When we got the diagnosis, the centre were just fantastic. They supported me through everything.”

The team assisted Amy in ensuring she had everything she needed, from a place at the Ridgeway School to a specialist disabled buggy.

Her children Alfie, aged seven and two-year-old Zachary also attended the centre over the years.

Amy added: “They’ve helped me be a better parent. They’ve pointed me in all the right directions.”

The centre, which first opened in June 2009, offered services such as Play and Learn, baby health drop-in clinics and parenting courses. The team also provided help to adults who struggled with employment.

Mother Sammy Duncton volunteered at the centre before the team helped her secure at job at Potters Gate School by assisting with her application form and interview.

Sammy said she got the job “straight away” thanks to their help, and her partner also had assistance in securing work.

Despite the centre’s praise and evident support, it is set to close in September because of cuts made by Surrey County Council.

News of closures came in November 2018, after the council announced it would stop offering the Sure Start Centre provision.

The number of centres across Surrey was reduced from 58 to 21, and the remaining children’s centres are to be adapted into family centres. These changes will result in the loss of programmes such as Play and Learn and baby groups.

The closest family centre will soon be in Hale, followed by Godalming.

Parents and staff members raised concerns at the distance of the next available centre as there are “so many families who don’t drive”.

Staff member Catherine Johnson, who had worked at the centre for nine years, shared her view on the changes made: “It is quite short-sighted of Surrey County Council. It has pushed all the support that families need on to other agencies that we could help with.”

Acting manager Hollie Brightman paid tribute to the families and staff: “Over the last ten years it has been wonderful to work for all the families.

“The team really love what they do.

“It is just really sad that it has come to an end.”