Twerton Best Start Family Hub opens free on 10 September

Families in Twerton will have a new place to seek health, education and community support when the Best Start Family Hub opens on Thursday, 10 September.

The free hub in Twerton is open to families with children at every stage, from pregnancy through to adulthood. It is the first Best Start Family Hub to open in Bath and North East Somerset and brings several forms of advice and support into one community setting.

Health, education and advice under one roof

The hub will bring together health services, education providers, community groups and support organisations. Families will be able to visit one welcoming space for information and advice instead of navigating those services separately.

Bath and North East Somerset Council says families, schools, voluntary organisations and other local partners helped develop the hub. That community involvement was intended to shape a friendly setting that can respond to families at different stages of their children’s lives.

The new service forms part of the national Best Start in Life programme, which focuses on helping children and families reach support as early as possible. In Bath and North East Somerset, the programme is also intended to improve access to high-quality early education and childcare, particularly for children facing disadvantage or living with additional needs.

It will also strengthen early-years provision, with additional help available as soon as possible for children who need it.

Support designed around pressures facing families

Councillor Paul May, the council’s Cabinet Member for Children’s Services, said experiences during pregnancy and the early years can influence a child’s future. He identified financial pressure, relationship difficulties, mental health concerns and housing problems among the challenges that can make support harder to access.

The Twerton hub is designed as a local point where any family can ask for information, advice and assistance. Its scope extends beyond the early years, covering families from pregnancy until their children reach adulthood.

Citizens Advice B&NES is one of the partner organisations involved. Chief executive Kate Morton said placing advice and support within local communities could make a real difference to families and that the charity looked forward to welcoming people to the hub.

Planning a visit from 10 September

The Best Start Family Hub opens in Twerton on 10 September and access is free. It is intended for families, but the published information does not specify an opening-ceremony time, a full street address, transport guidance, accessibility arrangements or whether advance booking is required.

Families seeking further information can consult the Best Start in Life material on the B&NES Live Well website. The council also plans to develop existing children’s centres across Bath and North East Somerset into further Best Start Family Hubs over the coming months.

Source: Bath and North East Somerset Council Newsroom