Councillors vote for a fairer city for all
Councillors have given the green light to a three-year plan to tackle inequality throughout the city.
The ‘A Fairer Brighton & Hove’ framework has been developed after we consulted families, community groups and professionals to ask their views on how we can best support families and children at risk of disadvantage.
At a meeting of the council’s Children, Young People and Skills (CYPS) committee last night, members also agreed to the development of a Family Hub model which will better integrate services for children of all ages and their families.
Too many families still need help
Although the council has an extensive range of services and support available, delivered by a wide variety of partners, there are still too many families, children and young people who need help, especially those who have been badly affected by the cost-of-living crisis.
The development of A Fairer Brighton & Hove framework, Family Hubs and ensuring people get help as early as possible, will help to combat inequalities.
The council was recently awarded up to £1 million of government funding to develop family hubs, and was one of only seven local authorities in the country to be given the money.
High quality, joined up services
The hubs will be where ‘families only have to tell their story once’, with different professionals working together to develop high quality, joined up, whole family support services from conception to 19, and 25 if the young person has special educational needs or a disability.
Councillor Hannah Clare, chair of the CYPS committee, said: “There is a city-wide commitment to improving the lives of everyone in the city, and Brighton & Hove has many strengths and successes when it comes to supporting families.
“However, too many families do not have access to the same opportunities as others. The framework, family hubs and early intervention support will ensure we’re delivering the right support and services to the right families or individuals at the right time.
'We're listening to families and professionals'
“We've spoken and listened to a wide range of families, young people, community groups and professionals and have built the framework and family hubs model on the feedback.
“This includes the timing of support they receive, where services are based and how they’re designed, the types of services people like and want more of, and what works well currently.”
The framework is the start of a three-year programme with year 1 focussing on several new strategies for families, children and schools in specific areas of the city. Year 2 will expand to a wider area of the city, and year 3 will cover the whole city.
