Derby secures funding to create ‘one-stop shops’ for family advice and support
Published: 21 June 2023
Family hubs will provide support for families with children of all ages
Derby has been chosen as one of 75 areas to receive Government funding to launch Family Hubs. The city will receive £3.8 million until March 2025 as part of the Family Hubs Start for Life programme.
The initiative will see six of the city’s existing Children’s Centres transformed into Family Hubs, allowing families to access a range of support services under one roof.
The aim is to create a ‘one-stop shop’ to offer parents and carers the help they may need to establish a firm foundation for their children. Support and advice will be available to families with children and young people up to the age of 19, while young people with special education needs or disabilities (SEND) will be supported until the age of 25.
The hubs will bring together services that families may previously have had to find in different places, or found difficult to navigate, making it simple to get help in the right place, at the right time.
Councillor John Whitby, Derby City Council’s Cabinet Member for Children’s Social Care, Learning and Skills, said:
It’s very exciting that Derby City Council has secured funding for Family Hubs. The hubs will make it easier for parents and carers in the city to give their children the best start in life.
Providing the support children and young people need from birth right through to when they become young adults helps with their educational attainment, wellbeing and life chances, while also improving wider outcomes such as mental health and unemployment.
At the heart of Family Hubs are services that give babies a great start for life, helping parents build strong relationships with their babies by providing parenting classes, midwifery, health visiting, infant feeding advice and perinatal mental health support.
Other areas of help may include support with mental health, safe spaces for young people, housing and debt advice and other family-related issues.
The six Family Hubs will be launched in July and August, welcoming families throughout the school summer holidays to find out more about what’s on offer.
The hubs will be located in:
- Mackworth
- Derwent
- Osmanston/Allenton
- Sinfin
- Rosehill
- Becket
Families are being encouraged to take part in our Family Hub survey to tell us what services they would like to see and how they would like to access support and advice. The findings will be used to continue to shape the services and support offered by the Family Hubs.
Those taking part in the survey will get two chances to win £30 Love2Shop vouchers. The survey closes on Thursday 31 August 2023.