Newcastle has been awarded £3.6mn from the Family Hubs and Start programme. This will allow Newcastle Council to add to current Children and Family Hubs across the city which offer support from conception through to the age of 19 and up to 25 for youngsters with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).
Four Children and Families Hubs were set up in 2021 across the city to bring services together to provide community based, accessible and joined-up support for babies, children, young people and families.
One-stop shop
The Hubs act as a ”one-stop shop” to offer guidance and advice on a range of issues such as infant feeding, mental health support, health visits and informal parenting classes. The Hubs bring together a broader ”wraparoud” service that can improve the quality of life for parents who need additional support like getting into paid employment, relationship building and smoking cessation.
The council says strong, supportive families make for more stable neighbourhoods and ”happier individuals”. For the Council and its partners this increased investment will ensure that families get the support they need from birth through to adulthood whilst helping with children’s educational achievement, wellbeing and life-chances.
