Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust and its partners in Halton have been nationally recognised by the Department for Education (DfE) for excellent progress in rolling out the Family Hub offer for local children, parents and families.
Halton was one of 75 local authorities announced in 2022 as eligible to receive a share of a £301.75 million investment from the Government to establish a Family Hubs and Start for Life programme.
There are now four Family Hubs in Halton, with others to follow by March 2025.
Together with local partners including Halton Council and Halton Citizens Advice, Bridgewater has helped to bring a wide range of services together in one place, making it easier for families to find what they need and get the right support at the right time.
Education Secretary Gillian Keegan visited Halton’s Kingsway Family Hub in Widnes this week, attending a ‘baby shower’ event – where families can drop in and get advice, information and support on all aspects of pregnancy, childbirth and early parenthood as well as meet up with other parents.
Education Secretary Gillian Keegan meeting with Bridgewater and Halton Council staff
She also met with a group of local parents who have completed one of the Hub’s support programmes to learn how to navigate the ups and downs of bringing up children, improving knowledge and skills and sharing experiences and tips.
Sarah Brennan, Chief Operating Officer, Bridgewater Community Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust said:
“We’re committed to the local communities we serve and are delighted to be partnering with other local services through the Family Hubs.
“Early, personalised support, based on the needs of families, has a hugely positive impact on their health and wellbeing. Through our Family Hubs we can provide the best provision, right from when people might be thinking about having a baby, through to pregnancy and birth and as children grow and progress.
“It’s a privilege to be able to share key life moments with local families in our community and support them in this way.”
Family Nurse Supervisor Michelle Martin added:
“The Halton 0-19 service is delighted to be an integral part of the Family Hub model.
“We have incredibly strong relationships with our local partners and our collaborative approach is producing and delivering a very strong universal offer for children, young people and families of Halton.
“Introducing this model has been very exciting and Family Hubs are already making such a positive impact in our community.”
Health services available at the Family Hubs make it easier for parents-to-be to navigate pregnancy and get support when they need it.
Services include:
- Early language development
- Infant-feeding advice and specialist breastfeeding support
- Parent infant relationships and perinatal mental health
- Parenting guidance and support
These sessions will complement services like Midwife appointments and Health Visitor drop ins.
- Activities for children aged 0-5
- Debt and welfare advice
- Domestic abuse support
- Midwifery and health visiting
- Housing advice
- Family support
- Mental health services
- Nutrition and weight management
- Services for children who have or may have special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and their families
- Support parent relationships
- Youth services (universal and targeted), to name a few
For more information visit www.haltonfamilyhubs.co.uk or drop in to any Family Hubs/Children’s Centres in Widnes (Kingsway, Ditton, Upton and Warrington Road) and Runcorn (Brookvale, Halton Lodge, Windmill Hill).