CAMPAIGNERS protesting at job losses and cuts to children's services in Bradford are urging the public to show support.

Opposers to Council plans to make the huge cuts to the Prevention and Early Help area of Children’s Services want people to write to their local councillors.

Unite the Union’s regional officer, Andy Dyer said at today's protest outside City Hall: "Councillors can vote against this and stop it. We want people to write to them."

Bradford Council plan to cut £13.6m from children’s services and bring in a new delivery model where just one worker will work with a family that has children aged 0 to 19 regardless of how many children or how complex the needs of the family are, says George Williamson of Bradford People’s Assembly.

Children’s centres which see around 22,000 children aged 0 to 4 pass through their doors a year, will also be downgraded as part of these plans, says Mr Williamson.

Bradford People’s Assembly and Unite the Union fear that cutting from preventative measures will mean more intensive support will be needed more often when families are in crisis.

The proposals, which are out for consultation until February, would also see 480 staff lose their jobs and the majority of these will be part-time female front line workers.

The lunchtime protests saw leaflets being handed out to more than 200 people to raise awareness and rally support.

Mr Williamson said: “Bradford Council are using Tory government austerity measures as a cover for a drastic change to Children's Services. Yes, we understand that the government will have halved the income Bradford Council gets by 2020 from what it was in 2010, but the council has choices. The Council is happy to waste tens of millions of pounds on non-essential spending, such as doing up buildings and then leaving them empty and also giving money to private companies as long term loans, but then when it comes to our vital front line services there is no money. Front line services and staff are always the first to go, regardless of how much of a positive impact their work has on the community."

Councillor David Ward (Bolton and Undercliffe, Ind) also spoke at Tuesday's protest and was due to put forward a motion at the Council's Executive urging for more details about where proposed job losses would be made.

Councillor Val Slater, Executive Member for Health and Wellbeing, said the new arrangements are being consulted on and no decision would be made until April 2018. "Naturally people have a right to protest but until Government starts to address our major concerns regarding funding for children’s social care, then we have to manage with the limited funding we have,” she said.