Family hubs receive £1.3m towards another year
Four hubs that provide a range of family support to city residents are to continue for another year after government funding was secured.
Peterborough City Council has received £1.3m to continue running the hubs, which it opened in 2023, throughout 2025 to 2026.
They provide support for families with children up to 19 years old, offering parenting support, access to financial advice and learning-through-play sessions.
"The extended funding means we can support even more families... and look to open more hubs this year," said Katy Cole, cabinet member for children's services.
"By supporting families at the earliest opportunity and delivering services that help families create supportive, stable environments for their children, the hubs are having a hugely positive impact on many people's lives."
The Family Hub support is also available to families with young people with special educational needs, from pregnancy up to age 25.
Staff delivered nearly 25,000 face-to-face sessions from 2023 to 2024, an increase of 17.5% on the previous year, according to the council.
They also helped encourage an increase in families receiving Healthy Start vouchers from 25% in 2022 to 77% in 2024, by checking eligibility and helping them to sign up, it added.
Available through the NHS, the vouchers enable eligible families where women are at least 10 weeks pregnant, or have a child under four, to buy vitamins, milk, fruit and other healthy foods.
The council also said 85% of mothers who participated in the hubs' perinatal mental health support session reported improved mood scores.
Thirty-one organisations deliver support to the families at the hubs and Ms Cole thanked them for their hard work.
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