First Family Hub opens in Seacombe
The first of several Family Hubs planned across the borough has opened its doors in Wirral.
Families will be able to access a variety of different support services under one roof thanks to the launch of Seacombe Family Hub.
Families, community partners and professionals gathered to attend the official launch on Wednesday 2 August. The Hub brings together maternity services, health visitors, library and foodbank services and children’s centre activities.
The aim is to make services easier to navigate and more joined-up, ensuring families receive the right service at the right time.
Councillor Paul Stuart, Leader of Wirral Council and Seacombe Ward Councillor, who attended the launch event, said:
The new Seacombe Family Hub offer expands on the services already provided by the Children's Centre. Families will now have the opportunity to seek assistance for various challenges they may be encountering, such as child development, relationship issues, and support for special educational needs (SEND). The Hub will incorporate the regular Children's Centre activities, creating a comprehensive family support system.
The Family Hub is an innovative 'one stop shop' model, allowing services to work together more easily to engage with our families while allowing easy access for residents.
With backing from the Department for Education’s Family Hub Transformation Fund, and a series of interactive ‘vision-setting’ workshops with Wirral parents and carers, Wirral’s Family Hubs will each offer the same core services – with extra support tailored to the needs of the local communities they serve.
Wirral’s Family Hubs will also be spaces for parents and carers to meet each other and attend group sessions.
Councillor Sue Powell-Wilde, Chair of Children, Young People and Education Committee, said:
Housing many services under one ‘hub’ means that a family will only have to explain what they need help with once, rather than having to jump through hoops again and again.
The Hubs also enhances our current children’s centre offer - meaning that all families accessing early years sessions at our centres will also have access to wider support, should they need it.
Through our engagement with parents and carers, families told us they wanted ‘somewhere to come and breathe’ and that is what our Hubs will offer.
The Hubs 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.
Seacombe Family Hub will offer a wide range of services for families including:
- group activities for families to support their child’s development
- accessing health appointments with midwives
- health visitors
- accessing services when relationships in your life might need some support
- library and foodbank services
The Seacombe Family Hub is based in what was formerly Seacombe Children’s Centre at St Paul's Road, Wallasey CH44 7AN. It will be open Monday - Friday from 9am to 5pm.
