New family support centre opens in Hertfordshire » Housing » 24dash.com

More than 100 children and families across Hertfordshire are set to benefit from a newly refurbished family support centre.

The Crossbrook Family Support Centre in Cheshunt, Hertfordshire, celebrated opening its doors on April 8 with an official open day. This was attended by staff, service users and contractors, including CBS whose job as the facilities manager is to maintain the centre for the next 25 years.

The centre has had a complete makeover as part of a £20 million PFI project to refurbish five family support centres and build five children’s homes, two residential adolescent resource centres, a family assessment centre and disability resource centre together on one site and a purpose designed children’s centre, in Hertfordshire.

This PFI project is the first of its kind for Hertfordshire, and the centre is the first of 14 sites to be completed.

The multifunctional centre offers a range of services including parenting and children groups, a community drop in, childminder support groups and sessions run by health visitors.

The company providing funding for the project is Young Herts Ltd which comprises UMEI Investments Ltd and Geoffrey Osborne Ltd. GOL are also the construction contractor; the other partners are CBS, the facility management providers, and Hertfordshire County Council. 

The two-year project began with the Crossbrook Family Support Centre in July 2007 and the last facility is Burydale, a six-bed children’s home in Stevenage which opens in July 2009.

Maggie Compton, the Centre Manager at Crossbrook, said: “The centre is a safe place for families and children to get support and help, particularly if they are struggling or feel isolated. The new centre means we have a brighter and more uplifting environment to welcome people into.”

John Bowskill, facilities manager from CBS, said: “As a company with a community focus, we are delighted to be working at the centre as it has a significant impact on many local people’s lives.

“The official opening is only the beginning of our involvement and we are looking forward to a long-term partnership. Throughout the life of the building we will be working to maintain the property and also continuing to support the project for many years to come.”

John Harris, Director of Children, Schools and Families at Hertfordshire County Council, said: “The new-look Crossbrook Family Support Centre is paving the way in this exciting project to provide a ‘fit for purpose’ environment in which to support children and families.

"We’ve listened to staff and young people and the redesigned Crossbrook centre is a modern and vibrant place to better meet the needs of the communities it serves.”