Dear Editor
I think James Valentine has missed the point in his letter about the new Family Hubs (dated 8 September).
Read: Letters: I don’t accept Mayor’s political spin over Family Hubs
The new Family Hub in Queens Park is an extension of the existing Children’s Centre service which has been on that site from the very beginning, as a Sure Start centre.
By becoming a Family Hub, it will now move it on from just offering services to families with children under five, to a full advice and guidance service for all families with children.
The attendance at [Saturday’s] event shows that there is a need for this and families with older children have as much need for somewhere to go to get advice and meet others as families with very young children.
A huge number of people came along with children of all ages and enjoyed face painting, a magician, bouncy castle and craft activities, whilst advice services were there to talk to parents.
We hope this centre will become a place where families can go to learn skills, relax with their friends or just enjoy the space whilst being able to chat to professionals about all aspects of family life.
We do however realise that our current Children’s centre settings won’t be as attractive for teens and older children, so our plan is to open a brand-new hub in the centre of Bedford and one in Kempston, which will have much more of an appeal to older children.
We hope to give teenagers space to meet their friends and access the services they need. In this way we are moving forward the Family Hubs concept and building on the offering of our successful Children’s Centres.
Rather than trying to make political points, we want to work together with councillors of every political party, to make life better for all families in our Borough.
Cllr Jane Walker (Conservative, Clapham & Oakley)
Cabinet member for Families, Education and Children’s services
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