Four Woods Family Hub on Crownhill Road is the latest to join Plymouth’s growing network.
Family Hubs expand the support that has been provided by children’s centres, which support families with children aged 0 to 5 years. By March 2025, the Family Hub offer will extend to those with children aged 0 to 19 years, or up to 25 years old for young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND).
Plymouth City Council was awarded funding from the Government to support the development of Family Hubs and establish the initial Start for Life support that will help families as their children grow.
The Start for Life offer, providing support from pregnancy through to four years old, is the first stage of the Family Hub programme to go live.
Four Woods Family Hub is the fifth to launch across the city, joining Nomony Family Hub in Cattedown, Whitleigh Family and Wellbeing Hub at Four Greens Community Trust, The Barn Family Hub in Barne Barton and Rees Family and Wellbeing Hub in Plympton.
Families can currently access a huge range of support at the hubs and online, including:
- information about local support
- groups and activities for all the family, including:
- antenatal classes
- play sessions
- parenting programmes
- dads’ groups
- child development groups such as language development and relationship building
- practical help from professionals and peer supporters
- breast feeding and infant feeding support
- equipment on loan for example, breast pumps
- access to extra help if things get difficult.
Councillor Jemima Laing, Cabinet Member for Children’s Social Care, said: “We’re really excited to be developing this programme throughout the next year and it’s great to see Four Woods Family Hub launching to help expand the offer for families in the north west of the city.
“Family Hubs provide an invaluable resource for parents and carers, offering a welcoming, supportive environment where they can receive the right help, at the right time, which is so important.”
Tracy Tucker Children’s Services Manager for Barnardo’s said: “We are really excited to have launched the fifth Family Hub in the city. Family Hubs are warm, welcoming places with friendly, approachable workers able to help support parents and their children.
“They provide a wide variety of activities both in the Hubs and local community. These include stay and play sessions, with an opportunity to learn more about your children’s development, parenting courses and support for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). We can also support families in their own homes.”
Find out more about Family Hubs at www.plymouth.gov.uk/family-hubs or by following www.facebook.com/plymfamilyhubs.