Cheshire East Council seeks residents’ views on transformative Early Help Strategy

Families and individuals working with children in Cheshire East are invited to share their views on a new draft strategy designed to ensure the council’s initiatives are driven by the real-life experiences of families.

Cheshire East Council is seeking feedback from residents on its proposed Early Help Strategy 2025-2026. The new strategy outlines the collective ambition of all partners in Cheshire East to deliver timely and effective support, empowering children to flourish within their family environments and enhancing their long-term outcomes and aspirations. 

Early help is support for children of all ages that improves a family’s resilience and outcomes or reduces the chance of a problem getting worse. It is not an individual service, but a system of support delivered by local authorities and their partners working together and taking collective responsibility to provide the right provision in their area. 

Councillor Carol Bulman, chair of Cheshire East Council’s children and families committee, said:

“Our aim is to create a brighter future together. Alongside partners, we are committed to considering the needs of the entire family within our Early Help model. 

“We have already made significant progress on this work in recent years. We have established six Family Hubs across the borough, launched an operational Early Years Forum, and implemented the Healthy Young Minds Project. This five-year programme provides accessible, inclusive support to children and young people in Cheshire East, fostering resilience and promoting positive emotional wellbeing. 

“By further listening to the voices of our families and partners, we want to develop a strategy that truly addresses the needs of our community. Therefore, it is crucial that we receive as many responses as possible.” 

The consultation period, targeting families and partners across education, social care, and health sectors, will run until Wednesday, March 5.

Residents are encouraged to participate by completing an online survey, with paper surveys available at council-run libraries and Family Hubs. 

For more information and to have your say, visit: 

http://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/consultations.