Families in Lemington and across Newcastle’s Outer West can now access more support closer to home following the opening of a new Children and Families Hub on Charlton Street.
Newcastle’s Labour-led council has transformed a previously unused former school building into a new community base bringing together services for children, young people and their families.
The Charlton Street facility forms part of Labour’s wider investment in Newcastle’s network of Children and Families Hubs, designed to make it easier for families to get the advice and support they need within their own communities.
The new Lemington hub will be operated by Action for Children and will support families from conception through to young people aged 19, extending to 25 for young people with special educational needs and disabilities.
Families will be able to access a range of practical, educational and wellbeing activities, while the building will also provide social space where parents, children and young people can meet.
Bringing services together at Charlton Street means more families in Lemington and the Outer West will be able to access support locally rather than having to travel to other parts of Newcastle.
The investment has also brought a previously unused public building back into productive community use, creating a permanent base from which organisations can work together to support local children and parents.
The new hub strengthens the support already available to families across the Outer West and forms part of Labour’s commitment to giving children the best possible start in life.
Labour Newcastle City Councillor Barry Phillipson said: “Our Children and Families Hubs are about making sure families can access the right support at the right time and, wherever possible, close to where they live.
“Opening this new hub in Lemington means families across the Outer West will have more support available within their own community, with services working together from one local base.
“It’s also fantastic to see a previously unused building brought back into use for the benefit of local children, young people and families.”