Oldham families to benefit from new family hubs

Thousands of parents, children and young people are set to benefit from a multi-million-pound investment into ‘one-stop shops’ for families in Oldham.

Family services will be offered both in person and online for all stages of childhood, from conception through to 19 years old – or 25 for those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

The borough is one of 12 local authorities across the northwest to secure funding as part of a £302 million Government investment across the country.

Family Hubs will offer support and advice to families, from breastfeeding to nutrition, and from health visitor support to Dad groups and co-parenting classes.

All support is aimed at improving the lives and futures of children and young people in Oldham and will be of particular help to families who are going through a tough time such as parents that would like to support their child’s speech and language development more.

The first Family Hub centre in Oldham is set to open in July, 2023 and will eventually be one of six in the borough.

The hubs will be a one-stop shop for all services that relate to families and children and provide a welcoming space to make it easier for families to access the support they need.

Family hubs are for families with children of all ages, but at its core, the hubs focus on the first 1,001 days – from conception to age 2.

Services will include mental health advice for new mums in the weeks immediately before and after birth, and support for parents to build strong relationships with their babies.

Cllr Eddie Moores, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, said: “We want Oldham’s children to have the very best start in life, no matter their background or circumstances, so we’re really pleased to have been approved as one of the local authorities to benefit from this programme.

“Family Hubs can provide families with advice and support across a whole range of family problems across the 0-19 (25 with SEND age range).

"Family Hubs will allow other services supporting families in Oldham, such as social care, health, NHS, education, and the voluntary sector to also be involved.

“Family Hubs will support all families across Oldham, and continue placing children, young people, and families at the heart of everything we do.

"Families who are properly supported makes for more stable communities and happier individuals with better futures.

“Investing in families and making sure they get the support they need, from the early stages of pregnancy straight the way through to adulthood, helps with children’s educational needs, wellbeing, and life goals.

"It also helps them to become happier and healthier adults, by improving mental health and employment opportunities for the future.”

Oldham Council have approved to open five other Family Hubs by March 2025.

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