Calderdale families will soon have access to more services close to home to help give babies, children and young people the best start in life.
Calderdale Council is continuing the rollout of Family Hubs across the borough.
The Central Halifax Family Hub network launched at Jubilee in September 2023. The remaining networks will launch throughout Calderdale by April 2024, meaning all local children’s centres will become Family Hubs.
The 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(external link).
The hubs provide the same wide range of services and support that children’s centres do, with the addition of new services that support families and children aged from birth to 19 (or 25 for children with special educational needs and disabilities), including:
- Help with infant feeding
- A new service to support the mental health of new families
- Child development and more speech and language therapy
- A new programme to support dads
- More support from other families, and opportunities to volunteer to support each other
- Easier access to health advice for the whole family
- A new digital platform that is due to launch at the end of March: https://calderdalefamilyhubs.org.uk(external link)
Each Family Hub network brings together services including family support, early help, breastfeeding support, midwives, health visitors, GPs and their teams, therapists, youth services and activities for young children. The network will also include other local organisations and groups that work with families and young people, such as schools, libraries, youth provision and parent and toddler groups.
Support can be in person at a Family Hub, out in the community, at home or online.
Parents, carers and local community groups are involved in the development and delivery of Family Hubs.
Cllr Tim Swift, Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Public Health, said:
“It’s great to start growing our Family Hubs network, bringing together more services where families live – from getting advice and early help, to meeting other local families, taking part in activities and joining groups.
“Family Hubs support our priority to reduce inequalities by making it easier to access a range of services that are vital for health and wellbeing, get children ready for their school years, and help young people to have hope and aspiration.”
Cllr Adam Wilkinson, Calderdale Council’s Cabinet Member for Children and Young People’s Services, added:
“Giving children the best start in life is a longstanding commitment. Over the years we have continued to invest in a wide range of community-based services for families, through children’s centres, family support and early help.
“Family Hubs are a progression from children’s centres, with existing and new services supporting people’s development and helping them achieve their best, from birth right through to their teenage and young adult years.”
For more information about Family Hubs in Calderdale, visit https://new.calderdale.gov.uk/health-and-social-care/children-and-family-care/family-hubs-calderdale
The Family Hubs programme supports the Vision 2024 for Calderdale to be a place where everyone can reach their potential and live a larger life. April 2024 marks Calderdale’s 50th birthday and there’s not long to go! Find out more at www.calderdale.gov.uk/vision