First steps towards family hubs

Gloucestershire County Council is investing over £35million as part of the first phase of its plans to reshape services available to support families.

This investment in the council’s network of children and family centres in communities across the county will play a key role in the introduction of the family hub model to Gloucestershire, offering a wide range of family support services, or signposting to other services as needed.

The concept of family hubs was developed by the Centre for Social Justice (2014) and aims to provide support for all families with children and young people aged 0 to 19, or up to age 25 for young people with special educational needs and disabilities. 

The county council has appointed Family Action to run its centres in Stroud and Cotswold, with Aspire Foundation Trust managing Cheltenham and Tewkesbury. The new contracts will begin on 1 April 2024. Work is ongoing to confirm a partnership for Gloucester and the Forest of Dean.

The centres will co-ordinate and facilitate family support activity locally, making it easier for families to find out about the services and support available where they live. The aim of the family hub model is to ensure all families have access to the right support, at the right time, in the right place.

The new arrangements will offer opportunities for council services to co-locate with health partners and work more closely with local community and voluntary services in the locality making it easier for families to access support when they need it.

The children and family centres will become part of a wider network of physical and virtual family support points across the county. Families can find out more by visiting Children & Family Centres - First steps to Family Hubs | Gloucestershire County Council