A ‘TRAILBLAZING’ programme which improves support for babies, children, young people, parents, and carers in Coventry has been boosted by further government funding.
The city’s Family Hub and Start for Life Programme has been allocated up to around £1.5million over the next year.
Coventry City Council was chosen as one of 75 local authority areas to deliver the programme and has already received over £4million from the government.
The city has been recognised as a trailblazer in the programme, and has received many national ministerial and governmental visits over the past three years to see its success first-hand.
The initial funding is due to finish this year, but the additional grant will allow the programme to continue to expand across the city.
The council runs eight Family Hubs which operate with a range of partners to create one-stop advice and support centres in communities. They are key to early intervention and preventing issues such as problems with health and wellbeing escalating.
They help to join up the planning and delivery of family services and offer support to families with children of all ages up to 19 years, with services including learning support, infant feeding and parent-child relationships.
Working with partners allows families to access a range of support on one site, including education and welfare, employment services, Early Years, midwifery, Health Visiting, The Job Shop, Haven and Early Help.
Coun Patricia Seaman, the council’s Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: “We are delighted that we have received extra funding to allow us to continue the great and trailblazing work taking place in our Family Hubs across the city.
“The figures speak for themselves and they show that families really value the Hubs and the way they bring support right into the heart of our communities.
“They are helping to make stronger families and stronger communities as parents and families build their own support networks, and this new funding will allow that invaluable work to grow.
“It is essential that we build on the success so far and expand the offer even further to help more families and continue to work to our pledge to make Coventry a truly Child Friendly City and one where families, children and young people are at the heart of all we do.”
The priorities for the coming two years will cover a range of projects, including strengthening the network offer by supporting ‘early help hubs’ in schools and reaching those not yet accessing the Family Hubs, and there will be more work with fathers, and the ongoing development of AI and web services.
The programme will also extend its work in giving parents a greater voice and creating opportunities for qualifications and volunteering, and will work to reach more families in vulnerable groups, such as those who are homeless or newly arrived to the city.
Visit www.coventryfamilies.co.uk for more information on the Family Hubs.
