Wirral's independent local news website
Community organisations are invited to become part of a network of Family Hubs which will support children, young people and their families across the borough.
Family Hubs will offer spaces where families can easily access a wide range of non-judgemental support to help them live well in Wirral. They will provide a ‘one stop shop’ style of support covering social care, education, mental health and physical health.
Education settings, community, voluntary and faith sector organisations, and other key partners are being asked to make an expression of interest to become a Hub, by adapting their existing services to provide holistic support for families.
A successful bid for funding from the Department for Education’s Family Hub Transformation Fund awarded last year is enabling Wirral Council and partners to develop a number of Family Hubs across Wirral, each offering the same core services, with extra support tailored to the needs of the local communities they serve.
Elizabeth Hartley, Assistant Director of Children’s Services for Wirral Council, said, “Family Hubs are a way of bringing existing services together to make it easier for families to get the information, advice and support they need to thrive. Wirral benefits from a fantastic range of organisations and passionate people who want the best for their local communities. We are looking for some of those groups to be part of this exciting project.”
The Hub offer will serve families with children aged 0-19 (up to age 25 with SEND) prioritising ease of access, building connections and strengthening relationships. Family Hubs will also provide information and support to adults in those families, whether that may be for women’s health issues, or advice on lifelong learning and employment.
Elizabeth Hartley said, “Relationships are at the heart of Family Hubs.
“Everyone who works with children and families need to work together toensure that services are co-ordinated and straight-forward for families to access. We want to see fewer referrals or signposting, and more action and strong relationships.”
Transformation funding will support community organisations to make alterations that may be required to become a hub. It will enable minor adaptations to existing buildings to be carried out, improving accessibility and enabling multi-agency working where possible.
This could include:
If you think your organisation would make a fantastic family hub, you can complete an Expression of Interest form and provide evidence how you would be able to meet the key criteria.
You can submit an Expression of Interest here: https://forms.office.com/e/Q4n6Se3Rb6
Please submit your Expression of Interest before 5pm on Friday 19 May 2023.
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