CALLS have been made for the community to share their experiences to help keep a vital service in local hands.

Cumbria County Council made a shock announcement last week that a London-based charity will take over from Copeland's Howgill Family Centre to provide child and family support services.

County council chiefs have awarded the contract for family services to national charity Family Action, but the decision has been ‘called in’ amid concerns.

Now, Copeland's MP Trudy Harrison and county councillor Emma Williamson are calling on the community to share their experiences about Howgill, which has served Copeland for more than 40 years.

Mrs Harrison said: “We want to hear from more families about Howgill so that we can build up a picture of the diverse services it offers and the needs it meets for our local people. Howgill offers a frontline service which is trusted and respected, so quite rightly there has been a huge backlash from the community about this decision.

“It doesn’t make sense to lose something that is trusted, tried and tested.”

Coun Williamson, who represents the Kells ward in Whitehaven and will be ‘calling in’ the decision by the county council, said: “We want to help fight for Howgill and as part of this we want to know how this decision will affect our community and the impact it will have on families.

“Howgill is at the very heart of Copeland which has high levels of poverty. This service works with hundreds of families and children offering a wide range of help, support and advice and will be a huge loss.”

Following the decision, a petition was set up by campaigners, calling for the council to keep the vital service with Howgill.

Contact Mrs Harrison by emailing trudy.harrison.mp@parliament.uk or Coun Williamson on emma.williamson@cumbria.gov.uk