Public health news: Family Hubs

Public Health News: December 2023

Since their official launch in June 2023, Family Hubs have catered for every family living in the borough, from conception through to 19 years and up to 25 years for young people with additional needs.

The Family Hubs provide access to a range of universal, targeted and specialist services offering high quality information, advice and support.

Family Hubs also work in partnership to bring together a wide range of services for children, young people and families including:

• Free activities for children and young people
• Advice, information and support for parents and carers
• Infant feeding support
• Weekly groups and activities for young people and/or families focusing on health and wellbeing
• Information, advice and groups providing mental health support
• Early language support

A range of professionals, including midwives, health visitors, early help workers and those working with young people are located at the Family Hubs to provide a one-stop-shop for families.

GroBrain

South Tyneside Family Hubs are offering a new and exciting opportunity for parents and carers to learn more about how important the Early Years are for developing emotionally healthy infants, especially from conception to 2 years.

South Tyneside have joined forces with training provider GroBrain to learn more about bonding, brain development and the vital role parents and carers play in 'wiring up' the connections in their baby's brain.

This 'brain wiring' lays the building blocks for emotional wellbeing and how they will handle emotions in later life.

The four-week, two-hour activity will be delivered in a Family Hub close to you, aimed at parents and carers of babies from pre-birth to 12 months, with babies welcome to come along to each session.

Topics that will be covered at the sessions include the different areas of the brain, how parents and carers can help develop the connections in a baby's brain, the importance of stress responses and development of secure attachments.

To find out more about GroBrain, contact your local Family Hub on 0800 783 4645 or email familyhubs@southtyneside.gov.uk.

HENRY

HENRY supports the whole family to make positive lifestyle changes, creating healthier and happier home environments and building healthier communities.

HENRY provides a wide range of support for families from pregnancy to age 12 including workshops, programmes and resources.

All of our support for families is underpinned by the HENRY approach to supporting behaviour change which helps parents gain the confidence, knowledge and skills they need to help the whole family adopt a healthier, happier lifestyle and to give their children a great start in life.

There are several workshops you can attend:

• Understanding behaviour  (90 minutes)
• Looking after ourselves (90 minutes)
• Starting solids (2 hours)
• Healthy Teeth (90 minutes)
• Fussy Eating (90 minutes)
• Eat well for less (90 minutes)

HENRY - Healthy Families Right From the Start

Henry is an 8 week, free fun programme to give babies and young children 0 to 5 years a good start.

The programme helps the whole family to:

• adopt a healthier lifestyle
• create more opportunities to play with your children
• helps parents to support their children's health and social development

Preparation for parenthood

This is a 6 week course that covers: 

• Looking after yourselves before and after the birth
• Exploring the kind of family lifestyle you want to provide for your child
• Trying out new habits so you will be a healthy role model for your new baby
• Responding to your newborn's needs

Please contact lynn.ward@southtynesdie.gov.uk for details on the next programme.

Solihull Approach

As well as offering new and exciting opportunities to parents and carers throughout the Borough, South Tyneside Council has partnered with the Solihull Approach to offer free access to online courses for parents, carers, grandparents and teens living in the region.

Supporting emotional health and wellbeing from 0 to 19+, sign up to understand your child's feelings, as well as your own, as you go through life as a family. Learn to understand the changes in your child's development and how best to support them, whilst also strengthening your relationship.

Courses include:

• Antenatal and postnatal baby bonding
• Understanding your child or young person
• Your child or young person with additional needs
• Teenager's feelings and brain development
• And lots more specialist courses

For more information, visit In our Place: South Tyneside. Use 'ForEveryFamily' as your access code.

Coming soon - Triple P for Baby

Are you a parent-to-be or new parent with a baby under one year old?

This 8 week programme provides you with practical strategies to create the best environment for your baby's development.

It will help you feel more confident as you begin your parenting journey.

Learn ways to cope with frequent crying, set up good sleep habits, read your baby's cues, look after yourself, adapt to changes in family life and more. It's so much easier with positive parenting strategies!

For more information, and to book a place, please contact Familyhubs@southtyneside.gov.uk or call 0800 783 4645.

More information

To find out more about activities within the Hubs, visit South Tyneside Family Hubs.