Family Hubs news

Oldham's Family Hubs have spent the past year quietly turning everyday struggles into small victories for parents who felt they were running on empty. From December's Christmas literacy party in Royton to October's coat-and-duvet giveaway that warmed more than 70 households, the council-backed network has kept finding ways to meet families at the exact point of need.

Parents speak plainly about the change. Louise Hall, who finished a 10-week parenting course last winter, says she no longer 'cries all the time'. Abbie Marriott, whose son arrived a month early, credits a Baby Bonding group with handing her 'the best tools' when confidence was at rock bottom.

The numbers back up the stories. Seven hubs are now open, the newest launched in September 2024 with £3.6 million behind the whole expansion. Last November's Winter Warm drop-in alone fitted more than 100 families with coats and prams; this winter's appeal is already restocked after last year's success.

Behind the scenes, the council's Making It REAL literacy drive ties schools and hubs together so children arrive in reception ready to talk, listen and learn. One Royton mum watched her daughter 'come out of her shell' after home visits; another saw conversation skills blossom enough to end the daily struggle with words.

John Taylor, a single dad who found help last summer, now urges other parents not to wait until crisis hits. With winter coats heading out the door and new courses filling up, the hubs are proving their worth one family at a time, leaving only the question of how soon the next one can open.