Organisations have come together from across the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole area to support children, young people and families who may need advice or extra support.
They have launched the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Early Help Partnership, a collaboration of local agencies committed to supporting children, young people, and families at the earliest opportunity. This innovative partnership aims to provide timely assistance to prevent issues from becoming more serious, ensuring a brighter future for our families.
The BCP Early Help Partnership unites professionals from health, education, social care, and community and voluntary Services (VSC) to work together to improve outcomes for local children, young people and families. By pooling resources and expertise, the partnership will offer a holistic approach to support, addressing various needs from mental health and educational support, family counselling, parenting support, and general advice and guidance.
Karen Loftus, CAN Chief Executive highlighted the importance of this partnership: “We are thrilled to coordinate the launch of the Early Help Partnership, which signifies a new era of collaboration in our community, and to be a key partner in this to bring together the voluntary and community sector. By working together, we can offer the right information, advice and support at the right time, making a significant difference in the lives of children, young people, and families.”
The partnership’s approach is rooted in the belief that early help can transform lives, fostering a supportive environment where families feel heard, understood, and supported. This partnership is a real-life example of a local commitment to building a stronger, healthier community for all. Juliette Blake, Director for Safeguarding and Early Help at BCP Council said “I am delighted that we have launched the Early Help Partnership as it is support within the communities that enables the right support to be offered at the right time to children, young people and their families helping ensure better outcomes. I have been so impressed with the hard work and commitment from all partners to create the early help network- it feels collaborative, enabling all to work together and I am looking forward to seeing the impact for children, young people and their families”.
One of the key places people can find support is from the local family hubs. They offer free support from trained professionals, activities, and classes to support the local community. Following an investment of over £1m from the Department of Education, the family hubs offer support for children up to 18 years old, or 25 years for those with Special Educational Needs or disabilities, as well as supporting families. Family hubs are rooted in local communities to help ensure accessibility and to provide specific, relevant and targeted information and support to those who need it. Alongside these is also a virtual family hub which can support those who would prefer to access information online.
Amanda Boclet, Service Manager, Children and Young Peoples Public Health, from Dorset Healthcare concluded “The strength of this partnership is by having so many organisations joined up and working in a consistent way across the local area providing people with much more choice about where they can go for help. This will make such a difference, especially if people ask for, and get help, at an early stage”.
