TWO NEW children and family centres will be opened in Stonehouse and Cirencester. 

The new centres are part of an investment of £35 million in Gloucestershire County Council's network of children and family centres in communities. 

The council say these will 'play a key role in exciting plans to move towards a family hub model in Gloucestershire, to ensure families have access to the right support, at the right time, in the right place.' 

Each centre will act as a one-stop shop, offering a wide range of family support services in one location, or signposting to other services as needed.

Stroud Children and Family Centre is based at The Red Lodge in Stonehouse, and Cotswolds Children and Family Centre is in Lewis Lane in Cirencester.

The new centres will be run by national charity Family Action, which was appointed by the council earlier this year.

This week, community groups and district partners from across Stroud and the Cotswolds were invited to learn more about the plans to reshape services available to support families and see how they can get more involved.

They were welcomed by Cllr Stephen Davies, cabinet member for children’s safeguarding and early years at Gloucestershire County Council and Sir David Holmes CBE, Chief Executive of Family Action.

Cllr Stephen Davies said: “We are committed to reducing inequalities and making sure that families receive the right support, in the right place, at the right time, to give all children the best start in life.

“It was wonderful to welcome community groups and local partners this week to share our exciting vision for establishing family hubs across Gloucestershire, show them the new Children and Family Centres and give them an opportunity to meet and collaborate with Family Action.

 

"We look forward to welcoming families to the new centres in the coming weeks."

Sir David Holmes CBE, chief executive of Family Action, said “We were delighted to have the chance to meet with local groups and organisations in the new Children and Family Centres to discuss how we can all work together in delivering exciting, inclusive and accessible family hubs for all."