Families across Cumberland are invited to a free Family Fun Day this half-term to celebrate the official launch of Hub2U – The Family Hub on Wheels – an innovative new mobile service bringing essential family support and advice directly to communities.
The event will take place at the Family Hub on the Harbour, Whitehaven, on Tuesday 18 February 2025, from 1:00 PM to 4:00 PM. Families can enjoy free activities, light refreshments and much more, with a full programme of fun to be announced soon.
Hub2U is an exciting extension of Cumberland Council’s Family Hub offer – 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.
Named by the council’s youth engagement groups, Hub2U will travel across the Cumberland area, enabling local agencies to take 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 prevention.
Demonstrating the power of partnership, Hub2U has been made possible thanks to generous contributions from local organisations and groups. Stagecoach donated the bus itself and has fully refitted it to transform it into a fully functional Family Hub on wheels. The funding and design of the bus have been made possible through contributions from Sellafield’s social impact programme, 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 and improving the lives of children and young people. Whitehaven’s Family Hub on the Harbour was just the beginning, and now we are taking another huge step forward as we get ready to launch Hub2U.
“I’m really looking forward to the unveiling of the bus and seeing it get out on the road. By bringing services directly into communities, we are ensuring families can access the support they need, when and where they need it.”
"Jane Wheeler, Assistant Director for Family Help and Youth Justice said:
"We are so excited to welcome families to the Hub2U launch fun event, and share the bus unveiling with them. Our Family Hubs are set to grow across the Cumberland area this year, and the Hub2U bus is going to be an integral part of reaching even more children, young people and families.
“Hub2U really is a fantastic example of partnership working and what can be achieved when we have a shared commitment to supporting children, young people and families. We’ll be working closely with our partners to provide a range of services and of course Hub2U would not have been possible without the incredible generosity of our funding partners, including Stagecoach, Sellafield and partners within the Decommissioning Delivery Partnership, and the Copeland Community Fund. We’re so grateful for their shared commitment to our communities.”
Don't miss this exciting launch event—come along for a fantastic day out and be among the first to explore the Hub2U bus!
For more information, visit: https://cumberlandfamilyhubs.org.uk/hub2u
