Report attached.

Report Title: Site Selection for a Family Hub

Presented by: Councillor Oscar Ford, Lead Member for Children and Young People

Cabinet:

Agreed a recommendation to select St Kilda’s Children’s Centre in Romford as the main Family Hub for phase one of the programme with satellite hubs at Ingrebourne Children’s Centre and MyPlace Youth and Community Centre, both in the Harold Hill area, in order to ensure sufficient reach and delivery across the breadth of the offer.

Following a review of local data, service and demand needs within the Borough, this recommendation is based on St. Kilda’s central location, accessibility, existing infrastructure, and high service usage. The site meets the criteria set by the DfE and offers opportunities to expand our existing services and partnerships.

Cabinet agreed to the proposal that, alongside St Kilda’s as the main Family Hub, Ingrebourne Children’s Centre and MyPlace Youth and Community Centre, both in the Harold Hill area, are utilised as satellite family hubs during this initial phase to ensure sufficient reach and delivery across the breadth of the offer.

Cabinet agreed to the recommendation that the sites for service delivery remain under frequent review to ensure that maximum potential reach is being achieved and that all appropriate community venues are being utilised.

Report Title: Site Selection for a Family Hub

Presented by: Councillor Oscar Ford, Lead Member for Children and Young People

Summary:

Havering has a statutory duty under the Children’s Act to provide support as appropriate within our local area. We successfully bid for funding under the Family Hubs and Best Start in Life Programme to establish a Family Hub site which must be identified by January 2026, prioritising disadvantaged communities to maximise reach and accessibility. The hub will offer integrated support across health, education, and social care, including delivery of parenting programmes, home learning interventions, and mental health services. Delivery in line with guidance will be flexible, community-based, and inclusive, with a strong emphasis on co-location of services, digital access, and continuous improvement through local governance and collaboration.

The Department for Education (DfE) has awarded Havering a Best Start Family Hubs Development Grant of £153,555. This funding will help establish a Local Family Hub to deliver parenting and home learning programmes from April 2026. The aim, in line with national guidance, is to improve early childhood development and help children thrive at school, with a target for 75% of children to reach expected development levels by 2028.

The grant requires us to identify at least one Family Hub site by January 2026. The site must be in a disadvantaged area, accessible, welcoming, and able to host parenting programmes and co-located services. The enhanced family hubs offer will need to be in place from April 2026.

Cabinet:

Agreed a recommendation to select St Kilda’s Children’s Centre in Romford as the main Family Hub for phase one of the programme with satellite hubs at Ingrebourne Children’s Centre and MyPlace Youth and Community Centre, both in the Harold Hill area, in order to ensure sufficient reach and delivery across the breadth of the offer.

Following a review of local data, service and demand needs within the Borough, this recommendation is based on St. Kilda’s central location, accessibility, existing infrastructure, and high service usage. The site meets the criteria set by the DfE and offers opportunities to expand our existing services and partnerships.

Cabinet agreed to the proposal that, alongside St Kilda’s as the main Family Hub, Ingrebourne Children’s Centre and MyPlace Youth and Community Centre, both in the Harold Hill area, are utilised as satellite family hubs during this initial phase to ensure sufficient reach and delivery across the breadth of the offer.

Cabinet agreed to the recommendation that the sites for service delivery remain under frequent review to ensure that maximum potential reach is being achieved and that all appropriate community venues are being utilised.