Parenting courses and centres for advice and activities for children will take place across Wiltshire, including Salisbury Library and Five Rivers Leisure Centre. 

Wilshire Council’s new £3m scheme will give support and advice for families with children or young people aged from 0 – 19, or up to 25 for those with Special Educational Needs and or Disabilities.

The plans will involve turning libraries and leisure centres across the county into hubs for families to be offered activities for young children, parenting support and mental health support. 

The proposals were discussed at the Children’s Select Committee on June 6 and will be considered for approval by Cabinet on June 13.

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Staff in the family hub buildings will receive training from a council team to be able to offer families advice and help at all times.  

There will also be QR codes placed around the community in libraries, leisure centres, schools, early years settings, soft play, parks and coffee shops which will link to online advice and self-help courses. 

The proposals were discussed at the Children’s Select Committee on June 6 and will be considered for approval by Cabinet on June 13.  

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The 21 family hub buildings would be:  

Amesbury Library, Bradford on Avon Library, Bulford: The Beeches/Kiwi School, Calne Library, Chippenham Monkton Park and Library, Corsham – Springfield Campus, Cricklade Leisure Centre, Devizes Library, Downton Library, Malmesbury Library.

Marlborough Library, Melksham Community Campus, Mere School/ Town Council, library, Pewsey The Vale Community Campus, Royal Wootton Bassett library, Salisbury Library and Five Rivers Leisure Centre, Tisbury Nadder Centre, Tidworth Leisure Centre, Trowbridge County Hall, Warminster Library, Westbury Community Project Hub.

Cabinet member for children’s services Laura Mayes said: “We are excited about the delivery of family hubs and redesigning services to make it easier for families to access help and ultimately improve the long-term prospects for children and families across Wiltshire. 

“The support we’re providing must match how families want to access that support right now to be effective.  

“These proposals will mean people can access information and support swiftly both online and at places local to them. There will be an accessible digital platform offering information, advice, support and self-help courses.  

“Alongside this the navigators at hubs across the county will provide a visible presence and advice.  

“If approved, we would like these hubs to be operational from April 2024, bringing services together and putting relationships at the heart of family help.”