Welcome to the January 2026 edition of our Family Hubs newsletter!
Spotlight on...
 From January 2026, Cheshire East Council will take over the delivery of support for young carers. This means help and advice will be provided directly by the council rather than through Making Space/Carers Hub. This will align with the Local Authority team that currently completes all the young carer assessments.
This change is designed to improve how support is coordinated; it does not mean support is ending. Young carers will still have access to:
- Advice and guidance
- Emotional support
- Group activities and sessions
We are working closely with Making Space/Carers Hub to ensure a smooth transition. Further details, including how to access support, will be shared in the coming weeks. If you have any questions, please contact: youngcarersteam@cheshireeast.gov.uk
 If you are pregnant or have children under 4, you could get help to buy healthy food and milk with a NHS Healthy Start card. Apply today and give your family the best start in life!
 Tomato Sauce
- Peel and chop the onion into small pieces.
- Peel the Garlic and chop into very small pieces.
- Heat the oil in a saucepan or frying pan. Add the onion and garlic and cook on a medium heat for 3-4 minutes stirring occasionally
- Add the tomatoes and stir well. Add the basil (tear the leaves into small pieces if using fresh).
- Simmer for 15 minutes.
Serving Suggestion
- Pour the sauce over some cooked pasta
- To make a creamy tomato sauce you could add 2 tablespoons of cream cheese and stir well
- Why not add some reduced salt vegetable stock and turn it into tomato soup!
We are updating some of our stay and play times, please see below for all our times and a NEW stay and play in Middlewich
Join us weekly on:
Mondays at Crewe Lifestyle Family Hub 10:30-11:30 OR 1:00-2:00
Tuesdays at Monks Coppenhall Family Hub 10:00-11:30
Tuesdays at Nantwich Children's Centre 10:00-11:30
Wednesdays at Cledford Primary School Middlewich 9:30-10:45 starting 14th January
Wednesdays at Oak Tree Family Hub 10:00-11:30
Fridays at Oak Tree Family Hub 10:00-11:30
A special Baby Shower Event has been planned for Thursday 29th January 2026 at Oak Tree Family Hub 4pm – 6pm.
This event is a wonderful opportunity for expectant parents to come together with partner agencies (such as midwifery, health, Cherubs, SMILE etc) to celebrate new beginnings and connect with fellow families in the community. This is also a fantastic chance for parents to learn more about the services and support available for families during pregnancy and beyond.
Event Details:
📅 Date: 29th January 2026
🕒 Time: 4:00pm – 6:00pm
📍 Location: Oak Tree Family Hub, Newcastle Street, CW1 3LF
Common Approach to Children's Health
 Foods to cut up
Think anything round, hard, chunky, doughy or stodgy.
Sausages or hot dogs – cut into short, narrow strips lengthways as thin as possible. Removing the skin makes them easier to swallow.
Meat – cut into strips and remove any bones, skin or fat.
Fruit – check for pips or stones and remove them.
Round fruit like grapes, blueberries, cherries, strawberries and cherry tomatoes – cut lengthways and then into quarters.
Vegetables and larger fruit like melon, apple, mango, carrot and cucumber – cut into thin strips. You can grate or mash soft food or steam or simmer harder food to soften it, especially for weaning or very young children.
Removing skin from fruits or vegetables makes them easier to swallow and reduces the risk of your child choking on the skin.
Legumes like chickpeas and butter beans – mash or steam to soften them.
Whole nuts should not be given to children under five. Chop or flake nuts and seeds.
Cheese – cut into narrow batons or strips.
White bread can form a doughy ball in the throat, so brown or toasted bread is a good option. Cut all types of bread into narrow strips.
Remember – cutting up food does not reduce the need to stay with young children when they’re eating!
CATCH APP
 CATCH is a free NHS health app for parents and carers of children from pregnancy to age 5.
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