THE green light has been given to build a new health and wellbeing family hub in Swanage.
The hub, in Chapel Lane, will enable children’s and adult’s services to be delivered differently.
It will offer an enhanced range of health and well-being services to the local community provided by a range of different organisations.
It will be operated by Swanage & Purbeck Development Trust in conjunction with Dorset Council and Swanage Town Council.
The hub will be part of the network of family hubs offering one-stop services for families, two of which have already been launched in other parts of the county.
Bob Foster, chair of Swanage & Purbeck Development Trust, said: “We’ve never had anything quite like this in Swanage before and the hub will be a great place for people of all ages to gather and meet socially, as well as to access essential services.
“There will be a community café which will be open every day and having a reception desk means that visitors can get help to find what they need both in person and by phone.
“In many cases the help they get will be provided at the hub itself or very locally.”
Cllr Mike Bonfield, chairman of Swanage Town Council’s community services committee, said: “As well as things like maternity services, debt advice or support with mental health, we hope that community groups such as Dementia Friendly, Link Visiting (befriending people in isolation), Swanage Stroke Club, and MS Purbeck will provide services from the hub.”
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The first family hub opened by Dorset Council was earlier this year in Ferndown, at Trickett’s Cross, and was funded through £875,000 secured from the Department of Education over two years as one of 12 national pilot sites.
In addition, Dorset Council is adding £342,000 to help develop and roll out a network of hubs.
Cllr Peter Wharf, cabinet lead for adults’ services, added: “This proposal will enable the development of a joined up intergenerational approach to service delivery in Swanage through the creation of a Family Hub that better meets the needs of the local community and supports the delivery of children’s and adult’s services commissioning strategies.”
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