Knowsley is one of 75 local authority areas to benefit from a share of the Government’s £301.75m Family Hubs and Start for Life programme funding package for the period 2022–2025.
Work is underway to develop the first Family Hub under the programme which will be located in the Northwood area of Kirkby.
Family Hubs will bring together a range of support and family services in one central place which is easily accessible by families.
All families need support from time to time to help their babies and children thrive, whether that’s from friends, family, volunteers, or professionals. Family Hubs will ensure that families have the help and support that they need, when they need it, along with the information and tools they need to care for their babies and children and look after their own wellbeing.
Family Hubs are based in the heart of communities, bringing services together to improve access, improve the connections between families, professionals, services, and providers, and put relationships at the centre of family support.
They offer support to families from pregnancy through to children up to the age of 19 years, or up to 25 for those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND), with a great Start for Life offer at their core.
The programme and Family Hub offer is currently being developed but it will include a focus on parent-infant relationships and perinatal mental health support, improving access to a wide range of integrated support services for families with children aged 0-19 years, breastfeeding support services and parenting programmes for parents of infants.
The Family Hub in Northwood is due to be open by Autumn 2023.