Children’s centre cash

A CHILDREN’S centre in Watlington has received a £5,000 grant from the parish council.

First Steps runs the centre at Watlington Primary School and a second one at Chalgrove Primary School.

The council has provided an annual grant since 2016 when Oxfordshire County Council stopped funding children’s centres in order to save money.

Matt Reid, chairman of the parish council, said First Steps provided a valuable service to the community.

The council deferred a decision of an application for £1,000 by Watlington Bowls Club and one for £8000 by Wild Oxfordshire, a nature charity based in Abingdon,  until after it has finalised its budget for the new financial year beginning on April 1.