New support network launches for Calderdale families

The new Central Halifax Family Hub at Jubilee launched on Tuesday 12th September, which saw a whole host of families, partners and professionals gather to learn more about the family support network available at Calderdale’s flagship site.

The event introduced new branding and showcased how families in Calderdale can benefit from improved, joined up services, at the first Calderdale Family Hub – ‘Central Halifax Family Hub at Jubilee’.

Family Hubs will provide support for families in Calderdale with children aged 0-19 years (or up to age 25 for young people with special educational needs or disabilities). Over the next two years, Calderdale will introduce a network of hubs, all of which will ensure people can access local support for family life.

Calderdale Council is one of 75 local authorities to receive funding from the Department for Education and Department of Health and Social Care to invest in Family Hubs, as part of the Family Hubs and Start for Life Programme.

What are Family Hubs?

Family Hubs aim to improve the connections between families and the people who support them. The first Family Hub, ‘Central Halifax Family Hub at Jubilee’, at Jubilee Children’s Centre and Nursery in Halifax was officially opened by the Deputy Mayor of Calderdale, Cllr Sue Holdsworth, at a ribbon cutting ceremony at the event on Tuesday 12 September.

Those attending the event were able to find out more about the many services available from this one location. Events on the day also included children’s activities and games for a variety of ages, arts and crafts, yoga, face painting, henna, a petting zoo, health checks and information from emergency services.

The Jubilee site is the first of a network of Family Hubs, which will serve communities across the borough. They will bring together family help services to improve access and connections to a wide variety of services, including parenting support, activities and groups and health advice. Families will be able to access services at any of the Family Hub locations.

Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Health, Cllr Tim Swift, said:

“I’m delighted that we’ve opened our first Family Hub, based in Halifax, providing a ‘one-stop-shop’ for local families to receive support and advice, as well as the chance to take part in activities.

“As the Family Hubs are designed for local families, it’s been so important that we’ve been able to involve them in the development process. The look of the hubs and the services they provide have been shaped by feedback from workshop events with local families, to ensure we can provide the support families need, where and when they need it.”

Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Children and Young People’s Services, Cllr Adam Wilkinson, added:

“It was great to see local families at the opening of the new Central Halifax Family Hub at Jubilee. There were lots of activities for young people and families to enjoy at the opening day, and also the opportunity to find out more about the many services available at the Family Hub to support local families.

“We welcome any parents or carers across the borough to come along and see how the Family Hubs programme can support their child’s development, from early years to older teenagers. We also look forward to rolling out the network of hubs across the borough, to help give children and young people the best start in life and to support the Council’s priority to reduce inequalities.”

For more information about Family Hubs, visit here.

The Family Hubs programme supports Council priorities and the goals in the Wellbeing Strategy, that all children are ready for school and young people have hope and aspiration.

Learn more about the HOT services that continue to take place at the Jubilee site

This article originally appeared here: http://news.calderdale.gov.uk/new-support-network-launches-for-calderdale-families/