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Plans to reshape support for families take another step forward

Published
Gloucestershire County Council has appointed a new provider for its children and family centres in Gloucester and the Forest of Dean, as part of £35 million plans to reshape services available to support families across the county.

The county council has appointed Gloucestershire Gateway Trust to run seven children and family centres in Gloucester and two centres in the Forest of Dean. These include the welcome return of the Beacon Children and Family Centre in Kingsway. The new four year contract will begin on 1 April 2025.

The award is part of a wider £35 million investment into the council’s network of children and family centres in communities across the county, which will play a key role in the introduction of the family hub model to Gloucestershire, to ensure families have access to the right support, at the right time, in the right place.

Gloucestershire Gateway Trust is a locally based charity that works to develop welcoming communities with motivated and connected people where every child and every family is valued. The trust has created a wide partnership bringing together a range of community groups and schools. They will work closely with Family Action and Aspire Foundation Trust who were appointed by the county council earlier this year to run its centres in Stroud and Cotswold, and Cheltenham and Tewkesbury respectively, to deliver these important services.

As part of the council’s vision for family hubs, each centre will act as a one-stop shop, offering a wide range of family support services in one location, or signposting to other services as needed. 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.

These new arrangements 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