A mobile family hub will get on the road this year.
Following the success of Whitehaven’s Family Hub on the Harbour, which opened in April, Cumberland Council is developing plans to extend their offer to families across the region.
First to launch will be a Family Hub on Wheels – a specially kitted-out bus. Led by Cumberland Council, the bus will offer services from different organisations.
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.
It will also visit schools to provide themed sessions and targeted prevention programmes on topics including support around healthy relationships, emotional well-being and substance use.
It 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.
It has been made possible thanks to the funding from local organisations and groups. Stagecoach donated the bus 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.
New family hubs are also set to open in 2025 across the Cumberland region, to provide a network of support for children, young people and their families. Work is underway to determine where these will be located, based on the needs of local communities and proximity to services.
They are part of the council’s Family Help and Prevention Strategy and the ambitious transformation of Cumberland’s family wellbeing services. The new approach prioritises early help and preventative support for families, ensuring that the right support is available at the earliest opportunity.
