A hub to support young people in the community has been unveiled.

The hub, based on Charlton Street in Lemington, is a new addition to the current Children and Families Hubs across the city which offer support from conception through to age 19, or up to 25 for children with special education needs and disabilities.

These hubs offer social spaces alongside a range of practical, educational and well-being activities for children and families. The activities offered in the new Charlton Street hub will be shaped by input from the local community with services such as health visiting, family support, community midwifery, mental health support, children’s therapies, youth provision, training opportunities, childcare and employability services.

The new hub comes after Newcastle were awarded c£3.6m earlier this year from the Family Hubs and Start for Life programme. The creation of the hub was also helped by the support of Lemington Riverside Primary School who kindly offered the un-used school building to be transformed into this new resource for the community.

The Children and Families Newcastle Hubs were first launched in 2021 to bring services and organisations together to offer community based, accessible and joined-up support for babies, children, young people and their families.

The hubs also bring together wider wraparound services that can make a huge difference to people who need extra support – such as advice on getting into work, relationship building and stop smoking services.

Cllr Lesley Storey, Cabinet Member a Growing City, Newcastle City Council said: “I am delighted to hear that we are adding to the already successful Children and Families Newcastle Hubs which have been offering valuable support to the city’s families and young people over the past 2 years.

Our continued development of these community-based support services demonstrates our commitment to giving children and young people the best possible start in life by helping to build strong, supported families.”

Catherine Joyce, Action for Children’s deputy director of children’s services in England, said: “We have been delivering services in Newcastle for almost 30 years and we have seen the real difference hubs like Charlton Street help make families across the city.

“We know hubs such as these can be a lifeline for families, and we are pleased to extend our offering in the Outer West of Newcastle so that our vital services can provide even more children and young people with the best start in life.”