Family Hubs network helping more Gloucestershire families receive support
Since launching in summer 2025, Gloucestershire's Family Hubs Network has made it easier for families to find advice, services and support in their local communities. With the aim of bringing together family support, health, education and community services, the network was designed to ensure families can access the right help, at the right time, in the right place.
Support is available through a range of physical and virtual spaces including Children and Family Centres, community venues, Youth Hubs and online, making it easier for families to connect with support in ways that work for them.
The county's Children and Family Centres, which form a key part of the Family Hubs Network, welcomed more than 78,000 adults and children during 2025/26, an increase of almost 20 per cent compared with the previous year.
Footfall increased from 38,153 adults and 27,388 children in 2024/25 to 45,500 adults and 32,953 children in 2025/26, with growth recorded across every district in Gloucestershire.
The council's Virtual Family Hub has also become an important gateway to support, helping families access information, services and activities online whenever they need them.
Since launching, the platform has recorded more than 4.5 million interactions from almost 146,000 people, demonstrating the growing demand for accessible, online support. Families are using the platform to find local services, book activities and access advice.
Alongside this, Gloucestershire's Youth Hubs have continued to grow, offering an increasing range of activities and support for young people through partnerships with local youth groups, voluntary organisations and community providers. The offer includes sports activities, health and wellbeing support, peer support opportunities and specialist provision for young people with SEND.
This is reflected in the number of young people accessing Youth Hubs across the county. Attendance has more than doubled, rising from 1,309 visits in March 2025 to 3,525 visits in June 2026, an increase of 2,216 attendances. Growth has been recorded in every district, demonstrating growing demand for accessible activities, support and opportunities for young people in their local communities.
Here are what parents and young people are saying:
· “Hand on heart, thank you from the bottom of my toes for all the support, advice, love and care for each of us and I can never thank you enough.”
· The information I’ve had at sessions has really helped and sometimes a person from another place like housing, debt advice and local police pops in too.”
· “I have learnt a lot about myself coming to the youth group and really enjoy being around others in the group, looking forward to the Residential.”
· “I trust you so I listen to you. I know you're looking out for what's good for me...”
Building on the success of Gloucestershire's Family Hubs Network, the council is expanding support for families through the government's Best Start programme, backed by £3.6 million of funding. The programme will strengthen support for children from pregnancy to age five as part of the wider Family Hubs Network, which supports families as children grow.
Earlier this year, Gloucestershire's Cabinet approved its first Best Start Family Hub at Bartongate in Gloucester, with a launch event planned in September. Over the next three years, a Best Start Family Hub will be established in every district, helping to enhance Gloucestershire's Family Hubs Network alongside Children and Family Centres, Youth Hubs, community-based services and the Virtual Family Hub.
Cllr Linda Cohen, Cabinet Member for Education and Skills at Gloucestershire County Council, said: "We launched our Family Hubs Network with a simple ambition: to make it easier for families to get the support they need, close to home and at the right time for them.
"One year on, it's fantastic to see so many more families accessing support through our centres, community venues and online services. These figures show that families value a joined-up approach that makes it easier to find help and advice when they need it.
"The next stage of this journey is to build on the strong foundations we've created through Gloucestershire's Family Hubs Network. Through the Best Start programme, we will bring together even more support for families with young children, helping to give every child in Gloucestershire the best possible start in life while continuing to provide high-quality support for families across our communities."
Visit www.familyhubs.gloucestershire.gov.uk to find support near you.