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👨‍👩‍👧 Families, Children & Parenting

Family Hubs and family support

What Family Hubs may offer, how local arrangements differ and how to ask for practical help without knowing the programme language.

Last reviewed: 6 July 2026 · UK guidance

In brief

Family Hubs bring together services for children, young people and families, but the exact age range, locations and support differ locally. Help can include parenting, infant feeding, early years, relationships, SEND, youth, benefits or referrals.

Some areas use children’s centres or other names. You can describe the need to the council or health visitor and ask for the current local gateway.

Find the local offer

Use the council’s official family information or Family Hub page. Check whether sessions are drop-in, appointment or referral-only, whether they are free and which ages are covered. Ask about online or outreach support when travel is difficult.

Ask for the service, not the label

Say what would help: feeding advice, parenting support, a safe play session, benefits guidance, domestic-abuse support, SEND navigation or help returning to work. Staff can identify the programme; families should not need to decode organisational structures.

Understand consent and information sharing

Ask what will be recorded and which partner organisations may see it. Voluntary early help should be explained clearly. Where safeguarding duties apply, staff should explain the limits of confidentiality.

If the hub cannot meet the need

Request the correct referral or a warm handover rather than a generic leaflet. Ask for the name of the service, eligibility, expected wait and what to do if the situation becomes urgent.

A simple Family Hub request

Use this even when the local service has a different name.

I am looking for family support with [need] for a child aged [age]. Please tell me the current local Family Hub or children’s service, whether I can self-refer, what is free, how information is shared and what alternative is available if there is a wait.

A practical checklist

  • Use the council’s current local page.
  • Describe the practical need.
  • Check referral, cost and age range.
  • Ask for a warm handover when another service is needed.

Check the current information

These are the most relevant official or specialist places to confirm live rules, availability and application details.

Family Hubs and Start for Life — GOV.UK

gov.uk

Open official information
Find your local council — GOV.UK

gov.uk

Open official information
Support for families

gov.uk

Open official information

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Choose one next action

You do not need to finish everything today. Find a relevant organisation through National Help, or save the action you want to return to in your Support Plan.

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