Within our Best Start Family Hubs we aim to provide children and families with all the help they may need for their children aged 0-5. We understand not every family can easily reach one our hubs. Many families find accessing support challenging because of distance, transport and busy lives make it difficult to get help.
Families are often more comfortable engaging with organisations they already know - a school, GP, library, faith group or local charity - than walking into an unfamiliar building.
If you are embedded within a local venue and trusted by the community, by joining the Best Start Family Network, family support providers can deliver services onsite reaching families ‘where they already are’.
More locations across the borough create more chances for families to access support at the moment they need it.
Becoming a network site involves:
- You should already be delivering (or be planning to deliver/host), at least one supportive service aimed at families with 0-5 year olds on a regular, sustainable basis e.g. a parent & toddler group, a parenting programme or health visitor drop-in clinic.
- We are required to provide data to the Department for Education, so quarterly we will ask you to share with us how many parents and children attended, their ages and postcodes. We will work with you on this.
- Display a Best Start Family Network branding/logo (please see below) within your premises
In return, network sites can benefit from:
- Funding - access to small community grants
- Relationships - formal links with Best Start Family Hubs, health partners, schools and other VCF groups
- Recognition - join a nationally funded initiative (DfE) and deliver support locally
- Families - plug into a referral and signposting system that helps families find the right support
- Infrastructure – support with training, recruitment, marketing and digital communications
To sign up, please complete the application below and email to bsilnetwork@redcar-cleveland.gov.uk. We’ll be in touch soon after.
In you have any questions please email: bsilnetwork@redcar-cleveland.gov.uk, or for an informal discussion contact Andrew Steel on 01642 771 586 or 07970 420 341.