Welcome to the December 2025 edition of the Cheshire East Best Start Family Hub Partner Newsletter!

Spotlight on...

Togetherness - Bringing the Solihull Approach to Cheshire East

Cheshire East Family Hubs are pleased to re-launch the Solihull Approach to emotional health and well-being - 'Togetherness'

The new brand name Togetherness reflects the essence of what the Solihull Approach is all about.  With refreshed images, accessible graphics and a new website, the new resources align with our ever changing world. 

On Wednesday 19th November, Cheshire East Family Hubs hosted a 'lunch and learn' in collaboration with our partners Visyon and Just Drop-In who have procured the professional licence. All resources from this session, along with flyers to share with your families can be found at the link below. 

Now it's over to you! Spread the word to your Cheshire East families as soon as you can to bring these fantastic FREE resources to our residents at the earliest opportunity. 

Young Carers Corner

It feels like a while since we updated you all with our Young Carer news because we have been very busy in our little corner of Cheshire East!

Firstly, we would like to congratulate Jamie and his wife Steph on the birth of their son, Ellis, who arrived in October. Secondly, we welcome Shanaz to the team who is on her first Social Work placement and is currently undertaking a Young Carer Assessor role. Shanaz has joined us from the CIN/CP team and we hope she enjoys her time with us and will remain a Young Carer advocate in her future roles.

Young Carer Logo – Have your say!

We have also spent some time with the design team and have two exciting Young Carer logo ideas to share with you. This is an important step for our team, affirming our identity within Cheshire East and representing the Young Carer community and the work we do together. We really need your help us to choose from our two designs and colour options. It will only take a few seconds to have your say by following this link! Vote by 12^th December.

Christmas Cards The Carers’ Hub ran a Christmas card design competition earlier this season and with two winning entries that are currently being created into Christmas cards which will be available from our team to purchase! Keep an eye out at the Family Hubs or drop us an email youngcarersteam@cheshireeast.gov.uk Seamus won the primary age category with this fun design…

… and Macy won the secondary age category with this stunner.   Thanks to Helen and Lindy at the Carers’ Hub for making this happen.

We're recruiting Children's Social Workers

Holiday Activity and Food Programme

I am delighted to be sharing with you that the HAF (Holiday Activity and Food) activities are running as usual during the school holidays in December for our children eligible for income related free school meals/ children with additional needs and vulnerabilities. The booking platform goes live on 24th November so please encourage eligible children/their parent/carer to sign up and support them in doing so where necessary.  We know education is a protective factor and some of our children are more vulnerable during holiday periods.

The HAF programme eligibility is primarily focussed on children in receipt of income related free school meals so please consider these children and young people first and foremost for sign up to HAF activities and for the hamper and leisure pass.

Children /YP must be between 5 and up to aged 18 years old as the scheme is only for school aged children. This does unfortunately rule out our care leaver population but we support them financially through the HSF scheme instead. 

If you have any questions at this time please contact the HAF team via  CEHAF@cheshireeast.gov.uk

Youth Parliament

There are some exciting opportunities coming up for young people in Cheshire East.

Book a bespoke session or assembly in your school or youth group from 26^th January to 20^th February 2026 so that your young people can vote for their next Member of Youth Parliament and about other opportunities connected to Cheshire East Youth Council.

Please take a look at our timeline of events below:

For further information and to book your session please contact participation@cheshireeast.gov.uk.

Understanding your Child's Development

0-19+ SEND Health Visiting Team

A three week course for children of pre-school aged children who have questions around developmental milestones, toilet training, sleep, speech and much more!

Cheshire East Substance Misuse Service - Change Grow Live (CGL)

Change Grow Live is a health and social care charity that works with individuals who want to change their lives for the better and achieve positive and life affirming goals.

A brand new training offer is available to schools and colleges, as well as information on how the charity can support your events. 

Family Hub Christmas Closure

We hope you enjoy a restful Christmas with family and friends. 

Our Family Hubs will close from 4pm on 24th December and reopen at 9am on 2nd January 2026. 

Across the festive period Knutsford Children's Centre will be open on 29th, 30th and 31st December.

If you have any safeguarding concerns about a child or young person, please call CHECS on 0300 123 5012.  This number is available 9am-5pm.  If you have a concern about a child out of hours including weekends and bank holidays, please call the Emergency Duty Team on 0300 123 5022. 

If you would like to feature in this newsletter, please email familyhubs@cheshireeast.gov.uk