A new Kingswood Family Hub is now open to provide support for older children, young people and their families to understand and manage their emotional wellbeing and promote better mental health.
Established in the old caretaker’s house in the grounds of the King’s Oak Academy, the pilot project is a collaboration between South Gloucestershire Council, Cabot Learning Federation, which runs the King’s Oak Academy, Kingswood Town Council and partners who provide support services on site. The building will be known as “Martin’s House” in recognition of the former caretaker whose home it was when employed by the school.
The type of support which young people and their families can access will include advice, guidance and services focussed on all aspects of emotional wellbeing and strengthening relationships between young people and their parents and carers and help to build the resilience required by young people as they develop into young adults.
The organisations say they recognise that many young people and families are facing more challenges today than say, before the pandemic and due to financial hardship. So, it is important to create opportunities for young people and families to share concerns at the earliest stage, and for services to be able to respond in a timely way.
The Family Hub is part of the South Gloucestershire Council Children’s Partnership Early Help Offer. By locating services closer to the community, teachers and other professionals will be able to point those who need help towards it more easily and support will be available in a familiar environment.
In addition to the councils and the school, partners include:
• Creative Youth Network, which employs a wellbeing practitioner and youth worker funded by the Town Council
• The local Mental Health Support Team, providing drop-in services and other support
• School nurses, who will offer support and guidance to young people and their parents
• Off The Record a mental health social movement by and for young people aged 11-25 who will provide support and guidance to young people and their parents
• Compass the Council’s Early Help navigation team
• South Gloucestershire Care Leavers.