New plans to help every child in Stoke-on-Trent thrive

Children and families across Stoke-on-Trent are set to benefit from access to a greater range of support designed to help young people grow up safe, happy and thriving.

The city council’s new Community Support Offer outlines how the council will work with local organisations to support families, build resilience and improve long-term outcomes for children and young people.

It will provide tailored support to a broad range of children and families, including children with disabilities, care leavers, families on the edge of care and families being reunited after time apart.

The city council currently commissions a range of services through external providers. The proposed new framework will allow the council to use and draw on local support for families - ensuring value for money while improving the quality of services.

By investing in early and targeted support, it will help to prevent a need for costly residential placements and improve life chances for children and young people across the city.

Young people not in education, employment or training (NEET) will also benefit from dedicated help to get back on track.

The council’s approach is already showing results. Thanks to partnership working with the Shaw Trust, 92 per cent of young people in the city are now in education, training, or work – up from just 53 per cent in November and now higher than the national average.

The city council has invested in early help and support for children and young people – with the new Family Hub opening in Blurton last month and the Virtual School supporting more than 1,160 students who are cared for – or were previously cared for – to help them succeed in their education.

Councillor Sarah Jane Colclough, cabinet member for children’s services at Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: “We’re working hard to make sure that in Stoke-on-Trent, families matter. This new offer builds on the success of our Family Hub network and Family Matters programme, bringing organisations together to improve the lives of children and families.

“This work is all about evolving our existing support offer for children and families - giving them all the tools and opportunities they need to thrive.

“It’s about making sure every child gets the right help, at the right time, from the right people – and that families feel supported in their own communities. Alongside our roll-out of the government’s new Families First Partnership Programme, this will give Stoke-on-Trent a strong, joined-up package of support that families can really rely on.”