Best Start Family Hubs

The national Best Start Family Hubs and Healthy Babies programme sets a refreshed direction for family and health support from April 2026 to March 2029. It builds on the learning from Sure Start, Family Hubs and Start for Life, with a clear expectation that local areas bring together health, education, early years, parenting and community support so that families can access help earlier, more easily and in places they already know and trust.

The programme places strong emphasis on early identification, prevention and reducing inequalities, particularly during pregnancy and the early years when the foundations for lifelong health, learning and development are laid. Best Start Family Hubs should provide a welcoming and inclusive front door for families, supported by a wider network of linked local services and outreach locations, so that families can receive the right support at the right time and are not left to navigate services on their own.

The updated national guidance describes Best Start Family Hubs as a key part of the Government’s wider Best Start in Life strategy, supporting the ambition for more children to achieve a good level of development by age five. The model remains universal and open to families from conception to age 19, or up to 25 for young people with special educational needs and disabilities, while prioritising support for families with babies and young children.

Locally, Worcestershire already has an established Family Hubs offer across the county. This procurement will support the expansion and strengthening of the current model so that it aligns with the additional national expectations for Best Start Family Hubs and Healthy Babies, including improved access, outreach, partnership working and support for families during pregnancy and the early years.

Full details of the requirement can be found in Appendix 1a - Service Specification_Lot 1 and Appendix 1b - Service Specification_Lot 2. This procurement is split into two Lots: Lot 1 covers the districts of Bromsgrove, Redditch, Wyre Forest, as well as Great Witley and Tenbury Wells.

Lot 2 covers the districts of Worcester City, Wychavon and Malvern Hills (excluding Great Witley and Tenbury Wells) Covers the districts of Bromsgrove, Redditch and Wyre Forest (including Great Witley and Tenbury Wells). Covers the districts of Worcester City, Wychavon and Malvern Hills (excluding Great Witley and Tenbury Wells).