Spurgeons charity wins contract to support Wiltshire families

Spurgeons, a UK family charity, has been awarded a contract by Wiltshire Council to provide family hubs in the local communities from April 2024.

The £3 million a year contract will enable Spurgeons to deliver effective early help support to families with children aged 0-19 years, and up to 25 years for those with special educational needs and disabilities across Wiltshire.

The family hubs will have a ‘whole family’ approach, bringing together organisations to make it easier for families to get the help they need. This will be implemented by a team of ‘navigators’ who will work in the community with local organisations to ensure that services meet the needs of families.

Families will be able to access a broad and integrated range of service including one to one outreach support, parenting programmes, group support including ‘Five to Thrive’ and ‘Preparing for Being a Parent’ delivered across 24 community locations.

Support will also be available online through information on the Wiltshire ‘All Together’ platform and through interactive/self-help services.

The experienced, knowledgeable and friendly Spurgeons Family Hub Team will be on hand to offer support and guidance to families as well as signpost to other local agencies and support providers.

‘Spurgeons has supported children and families in Wiltshire for many years and we are absolutely delighted to have the opportunity to continue this invaluable work,’ says Ian Soars, CEO at Spurgeons. ‘We are excited and committed to making the family hub vision a reality for local children, young people and their parents. Partnering with Wiltshire Council, our skilled, experienced, and compassionate team will continue to deliver high quality, innovative support.’

Cllr Laura Mayes, Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, said: ‘These new hubs will streamline access to support for families, aligning with our Business Plan missions to empower people to lead enriched lives and give children the best start in life.

‘As well as face to face support from trained, specialist navigators, families will be able to access a digital platform that will be able to offer advice and support at any time of the day or night.

‘We’re looking forward to these hubs opening from April in communities throughout Wiltshire to make a positive difference to the lives of Wiltshire’s families, children and young people.’

The hub locations will be as follows:

Main Hubs:

· County Hall, Trowbridge

· Monkton Park, Chippenham

· Five Rivers Health and Wellbeing Centre, Salisbury

Navigator locations:

· Amesbury Library

· Bradford on Avon Library

· Bulford: The Beeches

· Calne Library

· Chippenham Monkton Park and Library

· Corsham – Springfield Campus

· Cricklade Leisure Centre

· Devizes Library

· Downton Library

· Malmesbury Library

· Marlborough Library

· Melksham Community Campus

· Mere School/ Town Council, library

· Pewsey The Vale Community Campus

· Royal Wootton Bassett library

· Salisbury Library and Five Rivers Health and Well-Being Centre

· Tisbury Nadder Centre

· Tidworth Leisure Centre

· Trowbridge Library and Cotswold Space

· Warminster Library

· Westbury Community Project Hub

Courses and groups will be facilitated in:

· Libraries

· Leisure centres

· Campuses

· Schools

· Community buildings