Minister praises support for parents at Brent Family Wellbeing Centre

The Minister of State for Employment, Alison McGovern, visited Brent’s Family Wellbeing Centre in Harlesden this week.

She was joined by Deputy Mayors of London, Debbie Weekes-Bernard and Joanne McCartney, as she met with parents, children, and partners delivering vital services at the centre in Curzon Crescent.

Representatives from the Jobcentre Plus, Citizens Advice, and charities providing essential items for babies, and help for refugee and migrant families told the ministerial delegation about the work they were doing to support families dealing with the cost-of-living crisis.

Alison McGovern, The Minister of State for Employment, said: “Poverty makes you feel lonely, and isolates you from feeling part of a community. It’s glaringly obvious that families need more help and solidarity, and Brent is an outlier in having Family Wellbeing Centres to support families who are struggling.”

Brent’s eight Family Wellbeing Centres provide a wide range of support, including access to Citizens Advice Brent, food parcels and vouchers, information on feeding your family on a budget, activities and outings for children and families, and healthy lifestyles.

Councillor Harbi Farah, Cabinet Member for Safer Communities, Jobs and Skills, said: “The cost-of-living crisis is pricing families out of being able to meet basic needs, even in families where both parents are working. That’s why the services on offer at Brent’s Family Wellbeing Centres are so necessary. We’re able to help families who are struggling, not only to meet their day-to-day necessities, but also provide access to some of the best arts and entertainment that Brent and London have to offer.”

Representatives from the Child Poverty Unit also attended the visit to Curzon Crescent Family Wellbeing Centre. In October last year the Secretaries of State for Education and Work and Pensions also visited A Brent Family Wellbeing Centre to launch a 10-year plan to tackle child poverty.

To find out more about your local Family Wellbeing Centre visit brent.gov.uk/fwc