A SCHEME for under-fives in east Cleveland celebrated its first birthday on Monday with a free fun day.
The Sure Start East Cleveland Partnership is part of the Government's national scheme to help youngsters and their parents escape poverty.
Local MP Ashok Kumar launched the east Cleveland scheme at the Loftus Youth and Community Centre last year and now the centre has a permanent base at the same site at Duncan Place.
The scheme has developed a huge presence in the area and highlights of a year full of achievements include the development of satellite centres at three Loftus primary schools - Hummersea, Harry Dack and St Joseph's - plus a fully equipped playbus and a growing number of staff to work in the community.
Children from the three primary schools, along with others from Whitecliffe Primary at Carlin How, gave a performance of country dancing and singing before Vilma Collins, mayor of Redcar and Cleveland, cut the ribbon to open the new centre.
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