Bolton: Family hubs being launched across the borough

Bolton Council is one of just 75 local authorities to receive a share of the Government's £302M Family Hub and Start for Life fund, to open the new centres.

Five launch events are or have been taking place in Bolton since the start of the month.

Families were invited in to find out more and help shape the services to be delivered while taking part in fun activities.

This week the Great Lever Start Well Family Hub held its launch event, with games, face painting, food, Octagon story time and more.

Octagon story time at the open day (Image: Newsquest)

 Paul Rankin, Deputy Director of Children's Services at Bolton Council, said: "We have had a big event going on here today.

"It has been going well, we have been getting feedback from families. Families have been enjoying themselves. 

"We want to understand what families think of family space. 

"We want to get people involved, this is very much the start of things."

Helen Shearer, Strategic Lead for Early Years at Bolton Council, said: "We have had families with younger children and even some older ones. 

"Families seeking support from cost of living information to helping them with budgets to trying to understand entitlement to early years childcare a lot of fun, happy family with children. 

"It's about people understanding what the local offer is.

"Bolton Toy Library have a Wishing Well where families can tell us what they would like from the Family Hub."

She added: "We also have a consultation on our brand, to see what the community decides.

(L-R) Laura Wright and Eleanor Evans of Start Well (Image: Newsquest)

"We are delivering this through a partnership with the voluntary sector. Bolton CVS are here, championing the role of volunteering.

"Parents are not just taking part in consultation, but wanting to be part of this themselves." 

Sohil Neki attended the open day with his wife and children.

He said: "It is good, the kids enjoyed it. They learnt new activities.

"My youngest is two and a half years old, he is going to the play group at the centre. We need more community play like this, with activities for the children to do, so they can learn.

"That would make me want to keep bringing the children."

Chelsea Leather, who attended the open day with her children, said: "It's amazing. I didn't know it was on, but my little girl goes to nursery and when I picked her up I saw it was going on."

A balloon arch to mark the open day (Image: Newsquest)

Speaking at around 4pm, she said: "We have been here since midday. It has kept the kids entertained."

Chelsea, who is from Great Lever, added that there should be more initiatives like these.

Tahseen Arshad, who went with her two children and husband, said: "The children enjoy it, it's nice. I think there should be more of this." 

Her children went to the Octagon story time and had their faces painted. 

Eleanor Evans of Start Well, which is involved in running services at the Hub, said: "It is about parents knowing what is available in the local area. It can be difficult for them, knowing how to go about finding information that they need. 

"It is nice to see a lot of families come and engage." 

Here are the next events which are set to take place: 

• Alexandra Family Hub 12pm-5pm Fri, October 6 (Blackledge Street, BL3 4BQ)

• Farnworth Family Hub 12pm-5pm Fri, October 13 (King Street, BL4 7AP)

• Oxford Grove Family Hub 10am-3pm Sat, October 14 (Oxford Grove, BL1 3BH)