Mums who relied on one of the 33 children’s centres set to shut in Kent fear new parents will be left struggling.

Parents who used the Blossom sites in Deal say its sessions were a “lifeline”.

Last year, Kent County Council (KCC) announced 35 centres were at risk of being shut under a far-reaching reorganisation of the way community services are provided.

Despite a public backlash, KCC has since confirmed 33 are set to close in a move to help save £6 million over the next five years – amid an estimated £165 million backlog of maintenance work it cannot afford.

The authority claims rolling out new “family hubs” across the county will replace the services but it is unclear exactly where they will be situated.

Some parents fear the new centres will fail to fill the gaps, with longer travel times likely posing a significant problem for those who rely on the services.

KentOnline has published a full list of children’s services under threat, which covers large areas of the county, with Blossom itself due to shut at the end of May.

Heidi Taylor, alongside fellow parent Michaela Barnes, mounted a hard-fought campaign against the closures since the plans were first announced.

Such was their effort, a petition which amassed almost 1,000 signatures was presented in the House of Commons by their MP Natalie Elphicke.

Heidi, 31, described how Blossom “immensely” helped her mental health in the first months her son Rowen was born.

She also stressed the importance of groups being accessible to those without cars, as she was unable to drive for six weeks after her caesarean section.

Without Blossom being so central, Heidi believes she and her little one would have spent those early months trapped at home.

She said: “One of the things that was most outlined within our campaign was the fact that this youth centre was not adequate to host babies and toddlers whereas Blossoms was purposely built with the intention of their safety.

“When I say safety, I'm talking about situations like a toddler escapee.

“At Blossom they had a three-door locking system to prevent that. They also had pram parking, changing stations and low sinks allowing toddlers to reach.

“My son is one-and-a-half and this was a chance for me to not only spend time with my son outside the house and to get out somewhere within walking distance.

“But it was also so good for me to be with other mums and to open up about our struggles we go through.

“Almost every week we would be talking about our anxiety and mental well-being as well as comparing our toddler’s progression.

“It's just takes immense pressure off when we discuss these things and thanks to these groups I felt an immense pressure off my mental well-being.”

While some children’s centres will be absorbed by the new hubs, facilities provided for vulnerable groups are also at risk – including adults with physical and learning disabilities.

Under the cost-cutting exercise Blossom, based in Downs Road, will cease operation by the end of May and will be merged into Dover District Youth Hub in Linwood, which largely caters for adolescents.

Services the centre has provided to the community include childcare, support with health and mental well-being for mums and babies, breastfeeding help and educational play sessions.

While KCC has invested a total of £43,700 in both maintenance and repairs on the Linwood hub in Deal over the last five years, some parents fear the facilities will not be able to safely or comfortably cater for both pre-school age children and adolescents.

KCC blames the cuts on a backlog of £165 million of unaffordable maintenance work across its estate.

But the closures – which are expected to save almost £6 million over five years – were met with a wave of opposition from those who have benefited from the centres.

Another consequence of the reduction in service is alternative groups, which often require parents to pay, are reaching capacity.

Tiny Toes, also in Deal, is one play centre which has been affected, facing overwhelming demand and capacity issues due to the recent cuts.

Although KCC has reminded parents it still offers 13 sessions a week aimed at pre-school age children in the area, this is down from nearly 25 in previously released schedules.

Mum-of-one Jasmine King, 23, also objects to the closures, describing their role in her first year of being a mother as “so important”.

“Sometimes the groups are the only chance you have to see other people and talk to other mums,” she said.

“You can get advice about why your child is doing that really weird thing, ask if it is normal.

“Also just having a laugh and being around other people is so important.

“The staff were so reassuring and understanding and they were were always checking in to see if you need anything.

“It's also about the socialization not just for myself but my boy as he develops social skills that I wouldn't be able to give him without these groups.”

A spokesperson for Kent County Council (KCC) stressed their commitment to safety and added: “Following the Kent Communities Programme consultation and decision taken by the KCC cabinet in November 2023, 33 children’s centres will be closing across Kent.

“No more are currently under risk of closure.

“We are adapting our services for children, young people, and families by transforming children centres and youth hubs into family hubs .

“We are creating new groups and content for those who need them most, and digital services for those who prefer to receive support on-line or can’t access a building easily and are engaging with our communities to create and tailor support to meet local need, working in partnership with other professionals, including the voluntary sector, to provide advice and guidance.

“During this transition, we must also end or change some of our current groups to reflect the new offer. Therefore, the programme/timetable for Dover district is interim.

“Between May 13 and 31, there will be changes happening to the buildings we deliver our services from. We will be moving services out of some buildings permanently, and temporarily closing others to allow us to make the physical changes required to create whole-age spaces.

“The recently released interim timetable reflects a range of directly delivered and community-based supported sessions/groups.

“There are 13 sessions per week in the Dover area aimed at those below school age and as our Family Hubs continue to evolve, so will the offer to children, young people and families in conjunction with district needs.”