New way of delivering services to residents
Posted on Friday 15th June 2018
Newport City Council's cabinet has given the green light to a scheme to enhance and integrate the delivery of support services to residents.
Neighbourhood hubs will put families and individuals at the heart of the way they can access services in a modern and sustainable way.
Extensive research has pointed to four potential hubs in the north, east, west and central areas of the city with existing community centres operating as "spokes" in communities.
Services such as Families First, Flying Start and Communities for Work are managed separately in more than 70 buildings across the city.
It is believed that bringing the management of these services together in one place will result in a more joined-up approach for families and individuals. Other organisations are also likely to offer services in the hub.
The services will still be delivered in communities where they are most needed, through the spokes, but the hub will provide the initial point of contact and coordination of services.
Ringland, with high levels of deprivation and the greatest number of users of community services, has been chosen as the first location to pilot the model before it is rolled out to other areas.
Significant work, costing more than £1.7 million, will transform Ringland Community Centre into a 21st century building incorporating Communities First, Flying Start, the library and partners including Aneurin Bevan Health Board.
The spokes will be in Alway, Somerton, Moorland Park (East Newport community centre) and St Julians (the Beaufort Centre). It is anticipated that the project will be ready to launch by next summer.
Councillor Debbie Wilcox, Leader of Newport City Council, said: "We want to provide a much more effective way of delivering services to benefit residents who most need support. At the moment, that can mean going to a number of different sites to access services or possibly missing out on support that could make a real difference to their lives.
"By bringing the management of those services into the hub, there will be one point of contact for families and individual that will ensure they are given the right support, in the right place."
Councillor David Mayer, cabinet member for community and resources, said; "It is important to note that this is not about reducing services but about enhancing and improving provision for residents.
"These vital services will still be delivered in community buildings within local areas. The project is about delivering the right services, in the right place. When it has been successfully piloted in Ringland, it can be rolled out to other areas in the city."