Parents Welcome Family Hubs
Parents / carers, children and young people have welcomed a network of family hubs which will transform the way services are delivered for families across South Tyneside.
The hubs, which are being launched this week, will provide access to a broad range of universal, targeted and specialist services offering high quality information, advice and support for families with teams located at venues across the Borough, enabling families to access the right support at the right time.
As part of the Start for Life programme, the hubs will offer better integrated services for families, young people and children from conception up to the age of 19 or 25 for those with additional needs.
Parent Lauren Griffiths, 34, from Adair Way in Hebburn, says the family hubs will be a great asset to her and her two daughters, four-year-old Kiyone and one-year-old Reevan.
She said: "The family hubs will make a very big difference to me and my family. I already use the children's centres but with the age being extended to 19 I think I will use the hubs so much more.
"I think of lot of families can feel isolated when their children become teenagers so having the hubs there to offer support and advice will be fantastic."
A range of professionals and service providers, including midwives, health visitors, early help workers and adolescent workers will be located at the hubs to provide a one-stop-shop so that families need only tell their story once and help can be provided at the earliest opportunity.
Helen Upton, 35, from Norham Avenue South in South Shields is mum to six-year-old twin boys, Stephen and Patrick.
She said: "It will be easier for people to access the hubs rather than having to go to hospital and I think people will feel more comfortable in familiar surroundings as some people might feel intimidated in a medical environment."
The support on offer will initially include parenting support, early language and home learning, parent-child relationships and infant feeding support. However, parents and carers will be encouraged to shape services as the network of hubs develops.
Helen added: "Encouraging local people to have their say on what is needed is a great idea. If they can get more people involved, that will be better for everyone in the community."
The 12 Children's Centres across South Tyneside will now be known as family hubs although, going forward, services will be provided at many other sites as a way of bringing services to children, young people and families.
The hubs are being launched throughout this week with a host of events and activities on offer. Councillor Adam Ellison, Lead Member for Children and Families Social Care, cut a ribbon to officially launch the network at Horsley Hill Family Hub in South Shields.
Councillor Ellison said: "The launch of these hubs marks a really exciting time for children, young people and families in South Tyneside. We want every child to have the best start in life and these hubs are about making sure families can access the right support at the right time.
"I look forward to seeing how these hubs develop in the future and seeing what positive impact they have on our children and young people in future years."
To find out more about the activities going on throughout this week, visit southtynesidefamilyhubs.co.uk.