A major multi-academy trust is launching a charity to run its network of community hubs, amid concerns that support and services that used to come from local authorities have been cut back or lost.
United Learning will launch ‘United Communities’ to run the 26 community hubs it aims to have open by the end of 2025-26.
The trust, which has 90 schools across the country, currently has 14 hubs open - including in Salford, Sheffield and Portsmouth. There are a further six hubs in development.
United Learning CEO Sir Jon Coles said despite schools needing to focus on teaching and learning “what has become apparent over the last few years is that many of the families we serve depend on our schools for far more than the education of their children.
“For many, we are the focal point when they need wider help and assistance. As a result, community hubs are now a necessity rather than a nice-to-have,” he added.
“Support that used to come from local authorities has been either cut back or lost completely, so schools are filling the gaps. This is a worthwhile responsibility but, of course, it attracts no extra funding from the government.”
Setting up a charity will allow the community hubs to attract funding, Sir Jon said, while not taking resource from teaching and learning.
Once the charity is launched, the trust plans to expand its central team to better serve the hubs.
Activities in the community hubs include early years groups, youth provision, cooking, parent-led support for special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) and community meals.
United Learning set a target to open a hub in every regional cluster it operates back in 2021.
This week it opened its newest hub, the Phoenix Centre, in Bognor Regis. This will serve the community around The Regis School and Southway Primary School.
Sir Jon said schools with community hubs are already seeing increased parental engagement and better attendance.
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