A new Kingswood Family Hub is now open to provide support for older children, young people and their families to understand and manage their emotional wellbeing and promote better mental health.
Established in the old caretaker’s house in the grounds of the King’s Oak Academy, the pilot project is a collaboration between South Gloucestershire Council, Cabot Learning Federation, which runs the King’s Oak Academy, Kingswood Town Council and partners who provide support services on site. The building will be known as ‘Martin’s House’ in recognition of the former caretaker whose home it was when employed by the school.
The type of support which young people and their families can access will include advice, guidance and services focused on all aspects of emotional wellbeing and strengthening relationships between young people and their parents and carers and help to build the resilience required by young people as they develop into young adults.
The council recognises that many young people and families are facing more challenges today than say, before the pandemic and due to financial hardship. So, it is important to create opportunities for young people and families to share concerns at the earliest stage, and for services to be able to respond in a timely way.
The Family Hub is part of the South Gloucestershire Council Children’s Partnership Early Help Offer. By locating services closer to the community, teachers and other professionals will be able to point those who need help towards it more easily and support will be available in a familiar environment.
In addition to the councils and the school, partners include:
• Creative Youth Network, which employs a wellbeing practitioner and youth worker funded by the Town Council
• The local Mental Health Support Team, which will provide drop-in services and other support
• School nurses, who will offer support and guidance to young people and their parents
• Off The Record a mental health social movement by and for young people aged 11-25 who will provide support and guidance to young people and their parents
• Compass the Council’s Early Help navigation team who make sure we can provide the right help, in the right way at the right time to help families understand other services designed to help them
• South Gloucestershire Care Leavers will also support and guidance on a drop-in basis for young people who are care experienced.
South Gloucestershire Council Director of Education, Skills and Learning, Hilary Smith, said: “Family Hubs are part of the Children’s Partnership Early Help Offer and there are three key elements: Access, Connection and Relationships. The new Kingswood Family Hub puts these elements into action.
“It will make support accessible to families in their communities. It will help families to connect to services and services will be connected to each other. By sharing this space together, all the organisations can help meet families’ needs without them needing to repeat their stories.
“By working together, all of the agencies involved will be able to build relationships with families, and with each other to meet young peoples’ needs better.
“We know that working in partnership makes a big difference and the range of organisations that are part of this pilot demonstrate our commitment to making that difference together.”
Principal of King’s Oak Academy, Katherine Ogden, said: “We are delighted to open this hub as a space where families and young people can access the support they need.
“Our aim is to bring people together and strengthen our community while also improving access to early help support services.”
