Family hubs flourish as hundreds more children access support across Tameside

Families across Tameside are benefiting from a growing range of support and activities at the borough’s family hubs, as attendance figures and services continue to go from strength to strength.

In just two years, there has been a 500 per cent increase in the number of children accessing groups at the hubs, highlighting strong demand for nurturing, creative and engaging sessions for children from birth to pre-school age. Alongside activities for children, the hubs also provide vital support services for parents and carers.

Tameside’s family hubs bring together services delivered by Tameside Council and its partners, improving access to early years provision, parenting support, education, as well as financial and mental health services for families with children.

Sessions are designed to help children develop language and communication skills, encourage social interaction and, above all, offer fun and interactive play opportunities in a welcoming environment.

The family hubs are free to access and operate from four main locations in Ashton, Droylsden, Stalybridge and Hyde. They are open five days a week and offer up to 50 different sessions from Monday to Friday. Popular activities include Baby Babble, Mini Explorers and Storywalks.

Families are also encouraged to share their views through Parent Carer Panels, which provide opportunities to meet other parents and carers while helping to shape future services. Recent panel sessions have included seasonal activities such as Christmas wreath making.

Councillor Teresa Smith, Tameside Council’s Executive Member for Children’s Services, praised the impact of the hubs on local families.

She said: “Tameside’s family hubs are an invaluable asset in the community, and the team do an amazing job of providing a welcoming and supportive environment for families. Our sessions and groups are for all families and are not benefit-related, so I encourage all parents and carers to come along.

“We have expanded the number and variety of activities to meet the needs of parents, carers and their children, and ensure the Best Start for Life and Family Hubs Programme reaches as many people as possible.”

For more information on how to access services at your local family hub, visit www.tameside.gov.uk/FamilyHubs.