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New hub 'relieves pressure' for struggling parents

Jim Scott
BBC News, North East and Cumbria
BBC Danielle Moore, wearing a black cardigan and a patterned head scarf, holds her young son, Ozzy, who has blonde hair and is wearing a light grey jumper. BBC
Danielle Moore says the centre is invaluable for her and her son, Ozzy

Parents living on maternity pay say a centre providing free support and activities for children will relieve the pressure on "struggling mams".

The family hub, which offers services including health advice, breastfeeding drop-in sessions and children's play, has opened in Sunderland's Thorney Close.

It is the fifth to open in the city, with the staff employed by Together for Children which runs children's services for Sunderland City Council.

Danielle Moore, mother of ten-month-old Ozzy, said it was invaluable as many new parents could not afford to meet the costs of entertaining children.

Ms Moore said: "You feel stuck inside seeing the same four walls every single day, it's something different.

"At other places there are things you have to pay for and sometimes having to entertain your child at these places could become a struggle."

Leah Morrison, who has long blonde hair and is wearing a grey coloured sweater, is holding her son Niall, who is smiling at the camera and is wearing a blue bib and a very light pink coloured jumpsuit.
Leah Morrison, who is mother to Niall, says maternity pay can dwindle as the months progress

Leah Morrison is receiving maternity pay after giving birth to nine-month-old Niall and said it was important to have somewhere to get support without having to pay.

"It's really good to see other mams in the same boat, taking about teething, weaning and everything that goes on with being with a new parent," she said.

"Maternity wage can dip down quickly so knowing there is something free we can come to every single week is amazing."

A woman wearing pink trousers and a pink shirt and cardigan is walking across an outdoor playing area at the centre, where a young boy wearing trainers, blue jeans and a green jumper is seen walking towards an assortment of wooden play items.
The centre, which has indoor and outdoor play areas, also brings in external activity providers including exotic animal displays

Jamie Scott, interim head of family hubs for Together for Children, said it was a "universal offer" and open to "any family in the city, whether parent or carers" of any gender.

She said: "[Before this] families would engage with services independently, so they might come to a family centre to engage in activities and then a clinic to see a midwife, whereas now we have everything under one [roof] and we can really support their needs without the need to go to multiple venues."

Sunderland Mayor Ehthesham Haque, in the centre of the photo, holds a pair of scissors against a red coloured ribbon. He is wearing a light grey suit and brown coloured shoes. There are numerous children, wearing different outfits, standing next to him and holding the ribbon as he prepares to cut it.
Sunderland's new Mayor Ehthesham Haque declared the building in Thorney Close open this week

In January 2025, the Labour government said £22.4m of funding would be made available for the expansion of family hubs across the country.

The scheme was initially rolled out under the Conservative government.

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