Exciting plans are underway to launch a mobile Family Hub this year, as well as opening Family Hubs in new locations across the Cumberland region.
Following the success of Whitehaven’s ‘Family Hub on the Harbour’, opened in April this year, Cumberland Council are developing plans to extend their offer to families across the region.
First to launch will be a ‘Family Hub on Wheels’ – a mobile Hub in the form of a specially kitted-out bus. Led by Cumberland Council, the bus will operate in a similar way to the Family Hubs – as a partnership, with many different services on offer.
Known as ‘Hub2U’, the bus was named by the council’s youth engagement groups. The bus will enable local agencies to broaden their geographical reach, taking their services closer to children, young people and families, particularly those in historically underserved or remote areas. Hub2U will also visit schools to provide themed sessions and targeted prevention programmes on a variety of topics, which could include support around healthy relationships, emotional well-being and substance use.
Like the Family Hubs, Hub2U will be aimed at families of all ages – from early years information, advice and guidance through to support aimed at teenagers and young adults. Support offered to young adults could include brief interventions around staying safe, friendships and how to keep healthy.
Demonstrating the power of partnership, Hub2U has been made possible thanks to the generosity and funding from local organisations and groups. Stagecoach donated the bus itself and is currently undertaking a full refit to transform the bus into a Family Hub on wheels. Funding and design of the bus is thanks to multiple organisations, including Sellafield’s social impact programme and organisations within the Decommissioning Delivery Partnership (DDP); and Copeland Community Fund.
Cllr Emma Williamson, Executive Member for Children’s and Family Wellbeing and Housing at Cumberland Council said:
“We are committed to supporting Cumberland’s families to improve the lives of children and young people. Whitehaven’s Family Hub on the Harbour was just the beginning of ensuring that the right help is available at the right time.
“Next year will mark a huge step forward, with new Family Hubs opening across Cumberland and Hub2U, our ‘Family Hub on Wheels’ getting out and about. We’re bringing services to families, focusing on early support to help create healthy, resilient communities for all.”
Martin Birch, Director of Children and Family Wellbeing at Cumberland Council added:
“Our Family Hubs and the new Hub2U mobile service are all about collaboration. We’re working closely with our community partners to unite services, and listening to the needs of our families to address what truly matters to them – and bring services closer to where they are needed.
“I’d particularly like to thank our partners who are helping to make Hub2U a reality – by donating their time, funding and even a bus itself. We could not do this without their support. Thank you to Stagecoach, Sellafield and partners within the Decommissioning Delivery Partnership, and Copeland Community Fund.
“I’m really looking forward to sharing more about our new Hubs in the coming months.”