A mother has pleaded with officials not to meddle with a family support centre which saved her life.

Andrea Jackson, 36, says she would have committed suicide after she lost a child if it had not been for the help of staff at the Marigold Centre.

Around 22 jobs look set to be lost in a reorganisation of services as Southend Council struggles to save social services cash.

But Miss Jackson, of Norfolk Avenue, Leigh, believes it would be fatal if the axe were to fall.

She said: "The staff help so many families. I was on the verge of suicide last summer having lost a child, but the staff there helped me through it. They are angels. I and many other mums do not know where we would be without them.

"I am not exaggerating when I say children would go hungry and be neglected if workers at the centre are made redundant. There are mothers with hardly a penny and who need help to care for their children - babies do not come with an instruction book."

The Square in Rochford, which is at present run by Southend Council, is switching to Essex County Council control, which will have a knock-on effect on Southend's other family support unit, the Marigold Centre.

The move has sparked anger among families and union leaders who called for the move to be scrapped.

However, councillors were told how the proposals will help to slice £1.3 million from the social services bill - a saving that will help the council to stay within tough Government spending restrictions.

Jane Held, director of social services, has insisted the restructuring would "significantly improve" the way services are provided to vulnerable children and their families.

However, she conceded: "As part of the exercise, there will be a reduction in the total number of posts in the division, including some at the Marigold Centre.

"This is because we want to be more effective and efficient in the new structure."

Ms Held said senior staff will do their best to avoid compulsory redundancies.

Miss Jackson said she has also been helped by the Marigold Centre's mediation service, a creche for her daughter Phoebe, and assistance with Phoebe's dietary problems.

She added: "The Marigold Centre does not just help single mothers. It is for families from all walks of life. It does a lot to help women suffering from postnatal depression, and runs courses on things like assertiveness.

"There is nowhere else like it and every single member of staff is completely dedicated and essential to the running of the centre. If jobs were cut the centre would be closed within a year, and that would bring Southend Council a lot more problems than it would solve."

Picture, top: Don't close lifesaver centre - Andrea Jackson with her daughter Phoebe, two

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