Ivy Street Centre

The Ivy Street centre is an under 5s drop in centre based in an old pub in Ivy Street, Hoxton.

For 25 years the centre has provided this service to parents and childminders who drop in with their children. Many of those I met had long connections with the centre and with Hoxton.

The ground floor of the building houses a small play area for children and parents can catch up with each other over a cup of tea. In many ways the Ivy Street Centre is an example of Sure Start before it was widespread and Government funded. Ironically only a fraction of the funding for Ivy Street comes from Sure Start as it only funds new projects.

This centre has been refused planning permission for redevelopment because it is housed in a listed former pub building. As it owns its land and building it is in a potentially good position to look at other ways of funding its services and maintaining a local base. I am in discussion with a local school about possible collaboration over services for under 5s. I will keep you posted.