Family Hubs and services for families right across the borough have been relaunched after a £2.6 million cash injection and ambitious transformation plan.
Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council was one of 75 local authorities nationally given the opportunity to access significant funding to join up and enhance services delivered through transformed family hubs in our local communities, which aims to make sure all families can access the support they need. The Council’s teams worked at pace to deliver transformed services for residents.
And, after a major overhaul across the summer, the new look service is being relaunched at events this week. There were special launch events in Loftus and Skelton yesterday, Tuesday 12 Sept with more planned for Dormanstown and Greengates today, Wednesday Wed 13 September and tomorrow in Grangetown and South Bank on Thursday. Families will notice big changes.
The first 50 families through the doors at each of the centres will receive a free goodie bag, as well as being able to meet the staff, enjoy the outdoor play areas and take part in some craft activities.
One mother, Amber Leighton, of Skelton, attended yesterday’s launch event with her son, Noah, two, and Noah’s father, Jack Atkinson. She said the hub great not only for Noah to play and meet other children but for her to meet other parents too.
The Council is developing the family hub offer in conjunction with partner agencies. This will see a broader offer of support, longer opening hours and a service which will support children and young people aged 0-19, rather than 0-5 which it was previously.
Additional services include midwives, Enhanced Maternity Support Workers, Family Action and other community organisations.
The Council has carried out a robust local needs assessment and detailed analysis on the use and future suitability of all centres in the borough and extensive consultation with Family Hub users to gather their views on what they value in our offer.
Cllr Luke Myer, Cabinet member for Children, said:
“This is an exciting improvement to our services for families right across the borough which means we will be able to offer more support to children and families.
It is part of our wider work to tackle child poverty and deliver for local families, and there will be more developments to come. I’d like to congratulate everyone involved, and urge families get down to their local hub and find out what’s new!”
Please check out our Family Hub website for more details of the launch events near you! www.redcar-cleveland.gov.uk/family-hubs of follow us on Facebook www.facebook.com/RCBCFamilyHubs