Families across Conservative-run East Sussex can now access a range of support services 'under one roof' as 11 Family Hubs open their doors this summer.
Professionals including midwives, health visitors, Early Communications Support Workers, Early Years Practitioners, Community Engagement Coordinators and Early Help Key will offer support from the new Family Hubs, while sessions will give children and parents the chance to socialise and support their children’s needs and development..
Conservative cabinet member Bob Bowdler said: "Our team at East Sussex have been working long and hard on this project for quite some time, and I am so happy that it’s actually now live." The Lead Member for Children and Familes added: "Spread right across the county we will have physical Hubs, Virtual Hubs and ‘pop-up’ Hubs so we are hoping it will be fully inclusive.
East Sussex was one of 75 areas across England and Wales to receive a share of £301.75 million from the Government’s Family Hubs and Start for Life Programme. As well as transforming 11 sites, more support will be offered online.
There will be particular emphasis on providing Start for Life services specifically aimed at age 0 to two such as peer support, antenatal and postnatal education courses, baby/toddler sessions and perinatal mental health support
East Sussex is one of 15 authorities to be awarded trailblazer status specifically focussing on parent/infant relationships and perinatal mental health, and will become national leaders for the Family Hubs and Start for Life programme. Trailblazers will make the quickest improvement to services and sharing best practice with all local authorities.
On a recent visit to our Hailsham Hub, a lead member of Dame Andrea Ledsome's team said, “if you could design a Hub from scratch, this would be it!".
Dame Andrea is pictured with Cllr Bowlder at the Hailsham Hub.
