A national charity has started running Brent’s 14 children’s centres, retaining the staff on the terms of their former contracts.

Barnado’s, which began managing the centres at the start of the month, entered a four year partnership deal with Brent Council, which will see savings of £750,000.

Cllr Ruth Moher, Brent Council’s lead member for children and young people, joined Lynn Gradwell, director of Barnardo’s at the Willow Children’s Centre, in Barnhill Road in Wembley to meet parents and children and see the services being delivered

Staff members were transferred under Tupe, a protection of employment regulations, allowing them to keep the same pay and conditions.

Joy Nwandwei, whose one-year-old daughter Chisom attends the centre, said: “I come to the centre all time. I’ve been able to make friends with the other mothers and my baby has also picked up a lot from coming here. It’s important to have centres like these in the community.”

Lynn Gradwell, director of Barnardo’s in London, said: “Children are at the centre of all we do at Barnardo’s, and by taking on the running of these 14 centres we will be able to help many more young Londoners enjoy a good start in life.

“We are proud to welcome the experienced and dedicated staff members who have transferred to us from Brent Council, and I am looking forward to working closely with them over the coming months and years.”

Cllr Moher said: “I am pleased we can offer such fantastic support to so many children and families in our borough. Barnardo’s is a trusted and respected organisation in Brent and parents will be pleased that the charity is managing the children’s centres.”

The council will continue to oversee the centres’ performance and Ofsted inspections.

Five of the 14 children’s centres which have transferred to Barnardo’s are in Wembley: Wembley Children’s Centre in Barnhill Road, Willow CC, Barnhill Road, Alperton CC, in Ealing Road, Preston Park CC in College Road, The Welcome CCin Chaplin Road.

The remainders are Granville Plus CC, Granville Road, Kilburn; Three Trees CC, Tiverton Road, Kensal Rise; Hope CC, Walm Lane, Willesden Green; Harmony CC, Bridge Road, Harlesden; St Raphael’s CC, Rainborough Close, Neasden, Church Lane CC in Fryent Primary School, Church Lane, Kingsbury, Mount Stewart CC, Carlisle Gardens, Kingsbury, and Treetops, in Doyle Gardens Willesden, and Wykeham CC, Annesley Close, Neasden

Three other children’s centres which are not part of the partnership agreement and will continue to run by Brent Council are all in Harlesden–Fawood Children’s Centre in Fawood Avenue, Curzon Crescent CC in Curzon Crescent, and Challenge House in the High Street.