Support for families through new hubs given funding boost
Families in need of support in St Helens Borough will look set to benefit from a package of funding that will aim to give children the best start in life.
Article date: 8 April 2022
St Helens Borough Council is one of 75 councils that are eligible for part of a £302million fund which is designed to support them create Family Hubs.
A Family Hub is a centre that offers a 'one stop shop' of services for parents and families with children up to 19 years old. They bring together a wide range of services that can help provide support and advice on everything a family might need from those early days with midwifery and health visiting services, child development services, through to cookery lessons, financial advice, targeted youth groups, adult support groups and activities all working together under one roof.
The services based at the Family Hub all work together to make sure that families only have to explain their situation once and get the right support from the right services. And they are open to everyone to use as they need regardless of their background.
The announcement of the funding from Central Government comes as St Helens Borough Council looks to create its first Family Hub at Sutton Children's Centre as part of its plans to bolster early years support in the areas where the help will have the biggest positive impact on those children and families who need it.
The three-year funding will also see some money set aside for bespoke parent-infant relationship and perinatal mental health support with a focus on supporting families through the first five years of live for children.
Jim Leivers, Director of Children's Services, said: "Giving children the best start in life is crucial in improving a whole host of factors that will impact on their life as they grow up such as future prosperity and health and wellbeing. We want to make sure that every child in our borough gets the chance to achieve their full potential which is why we are looking at creating Family Hubs to support those who need it most.
"It's not always easy as a parent or carer to know how to support your family and give your children the right tools to build a bright future for them. Family Hubs will bring together a number of different services from the council, our health partners and others to deliver advice, guidance and practical support that will give the foundations for success. This funding will help towards the creation of the first hub in the borough that offer a more holistic service for the whole family."
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