YOUNG people and families are being urged to have their say on plans for a new family hub in Barrow.

Westmorland and Furness is seeking opinions on the structure of a new family hub which the council say will provide the opportunity to speak face-to-face with trained staff in a safe, non-stigmatising space.

The new family hub in Barrow will bring advice and support services for families together and will be co-delivered by the council and its partners using funding from the Department for Education (DfE).

The aim is to co-locate various services from the council and partners in one place to improve the sharing of data between services and ensuring families only need to tell their story once.

Westmorland and Furness is one of 13 councils out of 84 which applied to receive funding from the DfE for support to open family hubs.

The council is proposing that a main family hub is based at Barrow public library, with Family Hub outreach centres based in the surrounding areas where the need is greatest. The proposed locations for these are Dalton Community Centre, Ormsgill Community Centre, Walney Library and Bram Family and Wellbeing Centre.

Cabinet member for children’s services, education and skills, councillor Sue Sanderson (Grange and Cartmel, Lib Dems) said: “The proposed structure of the Family Hub in Barrow-in-Furness has been developed by working closely with stakeholders but now we’d like to hear from families.

“Although the hub itself will be based primarily in Barrow, this will improve our offer for families across the Westmorland and Furness area through joined-up working, co-locating services and improving how families access our services online.

“By March 2024, we aim to offer a community based, safe, welcoming, inclusive, and friendly family hub network, catering for families, children and young people aged 0–19, and up to the age of 25 for young people with Special Educational Needs and disabilities.”

Milorad Vasic, Director of Children’s Services at Westmorland and Furness Council, said: “We want every family in Westmorland and Furness to be able to benefit from the range of services our Family Hub will offer, so that all those who need support can find it.

“To help give children and young people the best possible start in life, our Family Hub will offer a range of services based upon local community needs – making it easier for them to access support.

“This new way of working will help improve the current and future health and wellbeing of children and young people, help reduce health inequalities, respond to local need, and provide universal and targeted support as required.”

The survey is live now and will close on October 27.

To view the survey visit consult.westmorlandandfurness.gov.uk/children-and-families/family-hubs-in-barrow-and-furness/