Inside Stoke-on-Trent's fourth family hub

Families in Stoke-on-Trent are set to benefit as a new family hub has opened in the city. It is the fourth hub to be opened using government funding. The new hub located on Bishops Road in Chell Heath will offer bespoke advice and guidance to local communities.

The Chell Heath Family Hub which opened recently will also offer families household budgeting, discounted food, pregnancy advice and support. It will be open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm and parents can book sensory rooms for free for up to an hour.

Councillor Sarah Hill, cabinet member for children’s services, said “We’re here in Chell Heath today, opening the fourth family hub across the city. We’ve already got them in Bentilee, Normacot and Tunstall, so we’re really pleased to have one here, which is right in the middle of the community. It will be great for parents to be able to use.

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“It is an informal way of coming in and meeting other parents for activities, asking for advice, for seeing the health visitor; there will be speech therapy based here. We really want parents and families to be able to use it and get any advice and support and fun they want for their children.”

The council is looking to establish a network of family hubs in a £3.6m plan to support residents during the first 1,001 days of a child's life. The scheme will be paid for with government funding from the Department for Education and Department of Health and Social Care - aims to 'improve health and education outcomes' by supporting parents and reducing inequalities.

Councillor Sarah Jane Colclough, cabinet member for education and anti-poverty said: “This building is amazing and it’s going to mean so much to the local community and getting that early support to families and not just families, it’s extended families; grandparents, dads, mums; uncles; aunties; sisters. There’s something here going on for everyone.

“Even if they just want to come and have a drink and a bit of social time and get some human contact and interactions with people. It’s an absolutely fabulous building, I’ve had a look around everything's that’s going on, the sensory area, the exterior playgrounds are fabulous.”

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