RESIDENTS can have their say on the future ‘transformation’ of early help services within the Royal Borough.

A second-stage consultation has been launched by the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead (RBWM) Council on the proposed family hub services – which bosses say will provide multiple services to children aged between 0-19 and up to 25 years for young people with a learning difficulty or disability.

RBWM said these one-stop hubs would bring together services being run by youth and children’s centres, the parenting service, family resilience service, etc. to help and prioritise children, young people, and families most in need.

The two hubs could be implemented in both Windsor and Maidenhead and it is said it will make it ‘easier’ for those who need the services to access them.

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However, this may involve closing down 14 youth centres and services across the borough – which has been heavily criticised by opposition councillors and campaigners.

This follows a previous consultation between January and March 2020 – which got 501 responses – with the second stage is set to gather more details and ask residents to comment on what the family hub will look like in practise.

The previous consultation – which saw 36 per cent of consultees agree on the hubs – sought views on the overall principle of the model.

Achieving for Children, who are commissioned to deliver children’s services on behalf of RBWM, are leading on the consultation where residents’ views and opinions will help form a final proposal on the family hubs to be brought forward to cabinet this October.

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Councillor Stuart Carroll (Conservative: Boyn Hill), cabinet member for adult social care, children’s services, health and mental health, said: “We want to be able to provide local resources refocused which supports our most vulnerable children, young people and families, helping to reduce the need for statutory intervention.

“The proposed model focuses on using high footfall centres more intensively and responsive outreach work to replace the reliance on a static and inflexible timetable led programme, allowing our resources to keep pace with the needs of our most vulnerable residents.

“It is important to hear resident views on how we develop that model that best meets the needs of our children, young people and families.

“I would encourage those who access the services now do get involved and share their views.”

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The consultation runs until September 17, 2020.

More details on how you can get involved can be found here – https://rbwm.afcinfo.org.uk/pages/local-offer/information-and-advice/send-consultation-hub-and-resource-bank/consultations.

The survey can be found here – https://surveys.achievingforchildren.org.uk/s/RBWM-Family-Hubs.