Two Family hubs have been given a GOLD certification from the BWD Young Inspectors!
Both Livesey and Shadsworth Family Hubs were inspected and were shown to provide a welcoming and non-judgemental environment where families can access support, advice and guidance.
The Young Inspectors project in Blackburn with Darwen has been developed to enable young people to have a voice. The project gives them the opportunity to inspect services they use and give critical and constructive feedback.
The reports say:
Our Family Hubs and Children’s Centre’s are committed to creating positive, lasting change across generations by nurturing resilience, promoting inclusion, and building a future where all children have the best start in life.
They play an important role in strengthening community connections and improving outcomes for children and families and provide valuable opportunities for families to access support, build relationships, and participate in their local community in a welcoming and inclusive environment.
The Family Hubs are known for bringing together a comprehensive range of services under one roof. They support families from pregnancy through to adulthood, including young people with SEND up to the age of 25.
Councillor Julie Gunn, Executive Member for Children, Young People and Education said:
“We know just how great our Family Hubs are but for the Young Inspectors to research, scrutinise, and interview those involved with the hubs to get a real picture of what these services mean for our families and young people really reflects how vital they are.
I’m so proud that they both received Gold and want to thank our young people for taking their time out to write such thorough reports and of course to all our staff who provide such great care making sure that the Hubs are the one stop shops that they set out to be. Well, done all!”
Shadsworth Family Hub’s nursery was also praised for also acting as a SEND Hub, offering:
- specialist staff
- additional equipment and resources
- tailored support for children with diverse needs
- guidance for families navigating SEND pathways
- close partnership working with health, education, and specialist services
Deputy Youth MP Arianna Sultana said:
“Taking part in the youth inspections of Shadsworth and Livesey Family Hubs was a positive experience. Me and the other youth inspectors were able to look at hubs from a young person’s perspective and share our honest views on what makes them welcoming, accessible and useful for families. Both hubs were exceptional, so seeing them receive the Gold award was really rewarding.
"The awards also reflect how much effort the staff put into making a difference to families in our communities. It was also great to feel that our views were genuinely listened to and valued throughout the process. I’d also like to thanks BwDBC for giving young people opportunities like this to get involved and have a real say in the services that affect our communities. I’m honoured that we have the opportunity to contribute to make services better for everyone”.
During the inspection, discussions with staff across the Family Hub demonstrated a strong work ethic displayed through a shared goal to support families, and young people.
Former Youth MP Zainab Shah said:
“The Youth Inspections provided great insight into what the family hubs provide to users within the borough and what they can get involved in. The Gold accreditation was well deserved and a massive thank you too all the staff and users involved”.
It was also demonstrated that both hubs had a strong commitment to ensuring that children, young people and families have opportunities to influence the services they receive. The report reflects that children’s voices are central to the delivery of sessions and support.
Ali Shah Deputy Youth MP said:
“I was really pleased with my experience as a youth inspector. Both Family Hubs deserved their Gold rating, and I was impressed by the wide variety of services available and the welcoming, supportive staff. It was clear that a lot of effort goes into making these services accessible and beneficial for young people and families. I hope they continue to provide such a high standard of support and keep up the great work”.