A playgroup on wheels, Park and Play Shellharbour has until now provided eight free weekly play sessions at different outdoor spaces throughout Shellharbour City.

The service is run by Family Services Illawarra and funded through Communities for Children (CFC) Shellharbour, of which Barnardos is the facilitating partner.

Oak Flats resident David Crook cares for his great-granddaughter full-time and frequently attends the sessions.

He said after a meeting with CFC Shellharbour representatives about the decision to redirect funds he wasn't happy with what he was told.

"They said they had done a survey of what the community wanted," Mr Crook said.

"I never saw a survey. I asked people here if they knew what was going on and 85 to 90 per cent didn't know what was happening."

Mr Crook has started a petition calling on the full service to be reinstated.

However, senior manager of Barnardos South Coast Kerry Moore said there wasn't a survey as such - rather data had been collected through a local consultative committee that formed in response to a change in the funding model ultimately determined by the Department of Social Services.

Ms Moore said they had advertised "extensively across the community" for people to join the committee, which was made up of local families and service representatives.

"This process referenced extensive data and community consultation and identified four key strategic areas," she said.

"Funding has been distributed to meet the needs identified in these areas.

"While still in the negotiation phase, it is anticipated that there will be changes to all previously funded CFC projects.

"While some changes have occurred, Shellharbour CFC is pleased that Park and Play remains a part of the program with four play sessions each week and the delivery of holiday sessions."