Leicestershire's first ever 'Family Hub' has officially opened in Coalville.

It is a new 'one-stop-shop' where parents and carers can access support and advice - and is based in the North West Leicestershire Children and Family Wellbeing Centre in High Street.

Leicestershire County Council says this is the first in a raft of family hubs for the county where families with children between 0 -19 (or 25 for young people with special educational needs or disabilities) can receive information on a range of issues.

Staff can give support and advice on a variety of topics including health, relationships, education, employment, finance and housing, as well as signposting to help from other local agencies and organisations. 

The Coalville centre is one of more than 20 family hub locations that have been confirmed so far by Leicestershire County Council, with more areas being considered.

Councillor Deborah Taylor, county council cabinet member for children and families, said: "It's exciting to see our first ever Family Hub open and up and running.

Councillor Deborah Taylor cuts the ribbon at Coalville's new Family Hub

"Our growing network of family hubs mark an important milestone in our ongoing commitment to our supporting families and strengthening our communities here in Leicestershire. 

"We recognise the challenges that parents and carers face on a daily basis, and it is vital that we provide readily accessible support networks."

Leicestershire is one of 12 local authorities to secure a slice of a £12m pot of grant funding to transform the way services are delivered for families.

As well as creating the physical hubs, there are plans in the county to carry out outreach work and create a new website containing helpful family information and advice.

This will mean that the hubs, whether in a building or accessed digitally, will be where information, advice and support will be found easily in one place.

The idea is that parents and carers can easily receive support right from conception, helping them to navigate parenting through the early years, right into adulthood.

The full network of physical hubs, which will make use of existing spaces such as Children and Family Wellbeing Centres and libraries, is expected to be fully open by spring 2024.

For more information on Family Hubs in Leicestershire, email [email protected].

A total of 75 local authorities are benefitting from a £300m share of funding from the Government's Start for Life programme to establish family hubs.

Leicestershire is one of 12 councils selected out of 84 which bid to share a slice of £12m for this from an additional 'pot' – the Transformation Fund. The council was awarded £944, 763 as part of the Family Hubs and Start for Life Programme.