Families with Young Children

Raising young children can be challenging, You don’t have to manage parenthood alone, support is available in every area.

National Support

National Financial & Essential Support

  • NHS Healthy Start Scheme: Provides a prepaid card to help pregnant people and families with children under four buy healthy food and milk.
  • BBC Children in Need Emergency Essentials: Administered by Family Fund Business Services, this programme provides critical items like beds, cookers, and clothing for children in crisis.
  • Family Fund: The UK’s largest charity providing grants for families on low incomes raising disabled or seriously ill children to help with essential items and services.
  • Buttle UK - Chances for Children: Offers tailored grants of up to £2,400 for children and young people who have experienced a crisis that has impacted their wellbeing and education.
  • The Trussell Trust: Supports a nationwide network of food banks and provides emergency food and support to people locked in poverty. 

National Advice & Family Rights

  • Home-Start UK: A local support network where volunteers provide one-to-one support for parents with at least one child under five.
  • Family Rights Group: Provides specialist legal advice and support for parents and relatives whose children are involved with, or need, children’s social care services.
  • Gingerbread: National charity providing expert advice and practical support for single-parent families. Phone: 0808 802 0925
  • Working Families: Provides a legal helpline and resources for parents and carers on their rights at work and benefits. Phone: 0300 012 0312
  • Baby Basics UK: A volunteer-led project providing Moses baskets and essential equipment for vulnerable families. This is a referral-only service; speak to your health visitor or midwife to access.

Health & Emotional Wellbeing

  • PANDAS Foundation: Offers free, confidential support for families suffering from pre and postnatal mental illness. Phone: 0808 1961 776 (10am-10pm daily)
  • ICON - Babies Cry, You Can Cope: Provides national resources and support to help parents and carers cope with a crying baby and prevent infant harm. Contact your GP or local health visitor for direct clinical support.

 

Local Area Support

These centres offer a "one-stop shop" for everything from "Start for Life" (0-2 years) to support for young people up to age 19 (or 25 with SEND). 

Merseyside

  • Liverpool City Council: Features an expanding network of Family Hubs and Children's Centres across neighbourhoods like Picton, Speke, and Granby.
  • Sefton Council: Provides a directory of Family Hub Locations including Southport, Netherton, and Litherland.
  • St Helens Borough Council: Coordinates support through its Family Hubs Network with a focus on early years and youth services.
  • Wirral Council: Offers integrated family advice via the Wirral Safeguarding Children Partnership and local children's centres. 

Cheshire

  • Cheshire West and Chester Council: Provides a comprehensive Starting Well service through its Family Hubs.
  • Cheshire East Council: Maintains a central Family Hubs and Connects portal for local services in Macclesfield, Wilmslow, and beyond. 

Greater Manchester

  • Manchester City Council: Operates Family Hubs at key sites like Longsight and Cheetham HilL, alongside specialized Early Help Hubs for North, Central, and South Manchester.
  • Regional Boroughs: Tameside, Oldham, and others have dedicated Family Hub sites for local residents. 

Lancashire