Rotherham Council’s Cabinet is set to approve new names for the borough’s Family Hubs when it meets on Monday 13 April, to help more families access the right support and activities at the right time.
The three main family hubs in Swinton, Maltby and Eastwood will be called Best Start Family Hubs while the borough’s other hubs will be renamed depending on the services it offers. The name change will not impact on the support offered at any of the sites.
Along with general help and advice, Best Start Family Hubs offer a range of activities, training and support including midwife and health visitor appointments, infant feeding support, antenatal classes, peer support for mental health, groups for parents of children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities, and a range of free groups for children under 5 and their families such as stay and play, baby massage, and sensory sessions. Support online is also available.
The new proposed Best Start Family Hubs will include the three flagship Family Hubs at Swinton Brookfield Family Hub, The Place Family Hub and Maltby Stepping Stones Family Hub and will offer the full range of Family Hubs and Best Start in Life support, services and activities.
Connect Family Hubs will include what is currently known as Dalton Family and Children’s Centre, Dinnington Early Help Centre, Dinnington Family and Children’s Centre, and Ferham Family and Children’s Centre. These sites will offer a wide range of services, tailored to suit the needs of the local area, but may not offer all the same services as a main Best Start Family Hub.
Lastly, Community Network Family Hubs help families access support and activities from the borough’s voluntary and community partners, right in the heart of their communities. Partners include Rotherham Parent and Carer Forum (RPCF), Grimm & Co, Clifton Learning Partnership, Rotherham Ethnic Minority Alliance (REMA) and many more.
Rotherham Council’s Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, Cllr Victoria Cusworth, said: “Rotherham Family Hubs have made a huge difference to parents, carers and families across Rotherham and I am really pleased that funding is continuing to help us continuing offering services, activities and support to families in the heart of their communities.
“It is a very exciting time for families in Rotherham and I am looking forward to being part of the next part of the Family Hubs journey.”
In March, Minister for Education, Bridget Phillipson MP, visited Brookfield Family Hub and saw firsthand the impact of Family Hubs on local families.
When talking to the Minister, one mum said: “Family Hubs are great for me and it’s great for my son, and it’s just on our doorstep, you know, and it’s free. They have a range of different activities that you can do, so there’s breastfeeding support and drop-ins. It’s been a lifeline for me.”
Launched in 2022, Rotherham was one of 75 local authorities invited to sign up to the Family Hubs and Start for Life three-year programme. Following new Government guidance, all Family Hubs across the country will be renamed Best Start Family Hubs.
For more information about Rotherham Family Hubs, go to the Council’s website at www.rotherham.gov.uk/family-hubs.
