Family Hubs welcome Lord during borough visit
Dudley Council welcomed Lord Michael Farmer to the borough today with a tour of two Family Hubs.
The national Family Hubs Network was co-founded by the Member of the House of Lords, who praised the work of the local authority following his visit to the Stourbridge and Brierley Hill Family Hubs.
The borough’s five former family centres become family hubs last year, with the other three Family Hubs located in Dudley, Coseley and Lye.
Dudley Council is receiving £3.7 million of government funding through the Family Hubs and Start for Life Programme over the course three years.
The Dudley Family Hub Network includes building-based, outreach and online support offers. They offer a range of services for families, including parenting groups, baby clinics, pre-natal and family support work.
Councillor Ruth Buttery, cabinet member for children and educational services, said:
“Our child friendly Dudley ambition is every child and young person in the borough has the right to grow up in an environment where they feel safe and secure, have access to the right services and are able to learn, play and grow while fulfilling their huge potential.
“Dudley is one of 75 local authority areas across the country to receive funding for the Family Hubs, which offer a fantastic range of services, support and information for families.
“It was an honour to welcome Lord Farmer to visit two of our amazing hubs today and to show him how the movement that he has co-founded is benefitting children and families here in Dudley borough.”
Lord Michael Farmer said:
“It is inspiring to see how quickly Dudley Borough Council and their delivery partners have developed their Family Hub network, so new parents get timely support to give their babies the best start in life.
“Crucially, those encountering difficulties with older children can also access help to strengthen their family life. Dudley Council's reconfiguration of children’s social care around family hubs is exemplary and a great model for others to follow.
“This is helping to prevent family breakdown and children coming into care. Both are essential for long term sustainability given the huge pressure on local authority budgets.”
For more information about the family hubs, people can visit www.dudley.gov.uk/family-hubs