Family Hub

Lunchtime Speaker  - Wednesday 11th April 2018

Manager of the N.E. Lincolnshire Family Hub, Rachel Cross and her associate Family Practitioner, Machelea Stuart described their roles of family support and early help provided to vulnerable families often at an early stage of their problems.

Rachel explained their focus was to ensure children and families thrive in a safe environment by tackling the root causes of distress when working with the family units.

Rachel reported that they were based at the East Marsh Centre, Victor Street which falls in the top 3% of deprivation in the UK. Family problems within their caseload included domestic abuse, mental health, neglect and substance misuse.

Rachel said the Family Hub operates on a tight budget and the staff of 12 often collects and distributes donations of food parcels, cots, beds, nappies and a range of essential items.

Harrowing examples of chronic neglect were given such as the single parent with 10 children some of whom did not have beds and slept on the floor. Some houses had no carpets, no heating and badly plastered bare walls.

A further case included the child who was given £5 for his birthday only to lose it the following day to buy heroin for the drug addicted mother.

Circumstances encountered by the support team include no toothbrushes and the consequent early removal of children’s teeth, no toilet paper, cat faeces on pillows and a horrible urine smell throughout some houses.

Rachel explained the aim of the Family Hub was to focus on and improve conditions for the family lives and donations from organisations greatly assist the team in their endeavors.

A cheque was handed over from President Michael and the vote of thanks given by Rotarian John Norman.