Developing family hubs across Cheshire East

We're working with partners across Cheshire East to develop family hubs, funded by the Department for Education.

Last year we were successful in our bid for a share of the government’s Family Hubs Transformation Fund. We have up to £1 million to develop family hubs across the borough by March 2024.

What are family hubs?

Family hubs support children and young people from birth until they reach the age of 19 (or up to 25 for young people with special educational needs and disabilities). They bring council, health and community services together so that families can access the right support at the right time.

Our family hubs will provide a mix of physical and virtual spaces, as well as outreach, where families can easily access non-judgmental support for the challenges they may be facing.

Services family hubs will deliver

Services that are planned to be delivered from family hubs include:

• midwifery appointments, health checks, weaning and nutrition advice, early years play education and sensory development
• intensive support to reduce family problems that result in family breakdown, working with the child and family to make positive changes
• family help and support for children with disabilities or additional needs;
• practical support around finance and housing
• youth support services, including youth justice
• mental health support for children, young people, families and new parents

Where to find our family hubs

Our family hubs will deliver services in a variety of ways and at a range of locations working to develop three of our existing children’s centres, Oak Tree Children’s Centre, Crewe, Monks Coppenhall Children’s Centre, Crewe and Oakenclough Children’s Centre in Wilmslow, converting them into our first family hubs.

Monks Coppenhall will be developed as our  SEND centre of excellence as well as providing our core offer of services. Further centres will be developed on a rolling programme, completed over the next 12 months.

Hubs are not necessarily about creating new buildings but focus on bringing services together and changing the way family help and support is delivered locally. In practice, this will be a mix of using existing children’s centres and other community spaces.

A significant proportion of family hub services will be delivered virtually, services will also be delivered in the homes of families themselves.

Timescales for our family hubs

We’ll start to pilot by June 2023 and will have others in place by March 2024. We’re currently looking at where those sites might be, and which buildings could be used.

Remember, this isn’t just about buildings; the offer of family hubs and joined-up family support services will extend across Cheshire East, through our digital offer and outreach provision.

Who is involved

We are involving child and health professionals in developing the new family hubs, together with local people who will use the facilities.

Over the next few months there will be a number of ways to shape the future of family hubs, so watch this space….

For more information contact familyhubs@cheshireeast.gov.uk

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