Feb 23, 2022, Gloucestershire Live: Civic leaders back ambitious plans for family centres in Gloucestershire https://www.gloucestershirelive.co.uk/news/gloucester-news/civic-leaders-back-ambitious-plans-6707394
SW England
Shire Hall chiefs have approved ambitious plans to recommission support centres for vulnerable children and families across Gloucestershire. Family hubs are centres which ensure families with children and young people aged up to 19 (or up to 25 years for children with special needs or disabilities) receive early help to overcome a range of difficulties and build stronger relationships.
Gloucestershire County Council leaders say research shows that effective early intervention can improve children’s wellbeing, education attainment, and life changes. It can also reduce poverty, improve mental health and lead to lower crime and unemployment.
Speaking at today’s (February 23) cabinet meeting, economy, education and skills cabinet member Philip Robinson (C, Mitcheldean) said the family hub model has recently emerged as an effective integrated model for early intervention. And it is being encouraged nationally by various policy initiatives.
He said: “What we want to do is allow our existing family and children centres to become hubs. We’ve got 16 of them so that they will provide a different balance between universal and targeted support than they did previously."…
It will address the needs of families with the youngest children and subsequent stages will cover progressively older children and their families. The maximum value of the contract over nine years is just under £34.5 millio [$447M].
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