Supporting families together
Family hubs are not just about buildings but a way of working that bring together services and professionals to support children, young people, and families in their communities. Whether you need advice, support, or just someone to talk to, family hubs help you find the right help, in the right place, at the right time.
Family hubs are here to help families across Devon build strong, healthy, and happy lives. We support children from birth up to age 19 (or 25 for those with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) or care experience) by connecting families to local services that support emotional, physical, social, and financial wellbeing.
We’ve moved from traditional children’s centres to a more flexible family hub model. This means support is now available in more places – like community spaces and online – so families can get help in ways that suit them best.
Family hubs bring together lots of services under one roof, including health, education, and children’s services, as well as local charities and community groups. This joined-up approach makes it easier for families to get the right help at the right time.
Our new Best Start Family Service is part of this. It brings together parenting, health, and education support to give every child the best start in life. The Best Start Family Hubs build on the success of Sure Start and family hubs, offering easy-to-access support for babies, children, and their families.
We also support families with children who have SEND, helping them find local activities and opportunities. Families can also get help with mental health and managing parental conflict, all as part of the national Best Start for Life programme.
We’ve kept important parts of our early help offer, like pregnancy support pathway meetings, locality triage, and practitioner forums, which help professionals work together to support families.
We’re always listening to families and working with them to improve our services. By involving parents and young people in shaping what we offer, we aim to create a welcoming and inclusive environment where every family in Devon can thrive.
Who family hubs are for
Family hubs are for everyone in Devon. You can use a family hub if you:
- are expecting a baby
- have children aged 0–19
- are a young person.
- care for a young person with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND) up to age 25
- are a grandparent, carer, or extended family member supporting a child
Family hubs bring together people and professionals from:
- health services (midwives, health visitors, nurses)
- early years and education
- social care and family support
- voluntary and community organisations
The support you can get
You can get support in lots of ways — in your local area, at community venues, online, or by phone. It’s all about making things easier for you and your family.
If you need more help, please contact family hubs.