Brent is outsourcing 14 out of 17 of its children’s centres to a national children’s charity as part of a new partnership model to keep the centres open.

Brent Council has agreed to award a four-year contract to Barnardo’s, worth £9.34m which will save it £750,000 a year.

Three children’s centres, Fawood Children’s Centre in Fawood Avenue, Stonebridge, Curzon Crescent Children’s Centre in Curzon Crescent, Willesden, and Challenge House Children’s Centre, opened two years ago in Harlesden High Street, will remain under council control.

The decision by the council’s cabinet members was made after a consultation with parents, community groups, voluntary sector, staff and schools about the future of children’s centres in the borough.

Barnardo’s, which runs more than 170 children’s centres in the UK, will work in partnership with Brent Council to manage the transfer of children’s centre staff to the charity, and the council will retain an oversight of the centres’ performance and Ofsted inspections.

Cllr Ruth Moher, Brent Council’s lead member for children and young people, said: “We are in an era of unprecedented cuts to local authority finances which means it is becoming harder than ever to protect the front-line services so prized by our residents.

“That’s why I’m pleased we have been able to agree to award a contract to Barnardo’s which will keep open these 14 children’s centres in Brent so they can continue to provide such fantastic support to many children and families.”