From April 2026, we are transitioning from Family Hubs and Start for Life to Best Start in Life Family Hubs. This page will be updated as information is shared with us.
Across the Bradford district our Best Start Family Hubs support families with children and young people of all ages and at every stage of family life.
Family Hubs are places in the heart of the community where you can attend appointments, meet with staff for a chat, or take part in courses and activities.
This section has more information about our Best Start Family Hubs and what they offer, including a timetable of events for each area.
We also have lots of advice, information and resources based on age group and links to other organisations who can help with family life.
If you’re not sure which Best Start Family Hub area you're in, use the postcode checker button. It'll open in a new tab so you can come back here once you've checked.
You can also become a member of our Family Hubs. It's completely FREE to join and apart from being a part of our growing community, you'll get a goodie bag, Citizen Coin rewards, a monthly newsletter and much more.
Best Start in Life provides support to families to improve children's lives, from when the baby is conceived until they start school and beyond.
The extra help provided through Best Start in Life will include support for:
Check out the new services being offered below, and sign up to our monthly newsletter so you can be the first to hear about what's coming next!
Our offer in print
As well as publishing our offer on this site, we've created a booklet which we give to new and expectant parents through our partners in the NHS when they attend appointments at hospitals in the district.
Please click on the image or this text to open the booklet
Please note:
Baby Steps is now funded to cover all of the Bradford District!
Baby Steps is aimed at families expecting a baby. The programme uses a combination of home visits and friendly online group sessions to help families feel happier, healthier and more confident as they look forward to meeting and caring for their new baby.
Now, with new funding from Family Hubs and Start for Life, it will be offered to a wider reach of families across all areas of our district.
To find out more, including the referral criteria, and an online application form, please take a look on the Parenting Programmes for Families page.
The form can be completed by parents or a practitioner supporting them.
The Bradford Doulas support women to make the best choices for themselves and their babies, helping them to achieve a positive birth experience and building their knowledge to enable them to make informed decisions about childbirth, nutrition and breastfeeding. Support from volunteer doulas can also connect families into network of other support services.
Available to families who live in the Bradford district, see their service listing for more information.
The Family Hubs and Start for Life programme has funded Baby Massage training for some of our Family Hub staff.
We have 5 week courses running across the district for parents/carers with babies under 6 months old.
For more information and to apply, visit Baby Massage with Family Hubs.
We are pleased to announce our newest service offer from the Family Hubs and Start for Life Programme: Dad Matters.
The service will support dads, step-dads and other male carers during pregnancy and right up until when the child is two years old - from supporting with attachment and bonding, to mental health support and hand-holding to access other services.
New and expectant dads can join a free, friendly workshop. All dads/carers can join regular "Walk 'n' Talk" sessions where dads can join together for a walk around parks in the district, chat about their parenting journey and maybe meet for a bite to eat afterwards too.
You can find further information on our Helping dads to feel involved during pregnancy and our I'm a dad information pages.
The Dad Matters workshops and Walk 'n' Talk sessions are listed on our Services Directory.
Maternity/Baby circles are popping up all right across the district! They support families from pregnancy right up until when baby is 2 years old.
They offer a free, welcoming and supportive space for parents and parents-to-be. They have a wide range of support from self-care activities, to advice from health professionals, to baby massage. Above all they are a friendly group where you can meet others for a cuppa, a chat and take part in the free activities provided.
You can use this link to see all the circles taking place across the district: Maternity/Baby circles. Use the filters to find a venue closest to you or a day that you are free.
Little Minds Matter helps babies get the best possible start in life!
They work with families with a baby, from conception to when the child is 2 years old, within the Bradford district who may be feeling really sad or worried. Families could be struggling with their feelings towards their baby, finding it difficult to calm their baby or feeling like their baby doesn’t respond to them.
The Little Minds Matter team is made up of various health professionals, such as midwives, health visitors, therapeutic social workers, psychologists and community engagement. These professionals can support families in Family Hub sites, their own homes or within a group setting. They deliver some amazing group work via baby massage or circle of security.
For more information, including how to refer yourself or someone else, please visit our Mental Health and Well-Being in Pregnancy and Mental Health and Well-Being after giving birth information pages.
Little Minds Matter are also listed on our service directory.
Feeling down, anxious or lonely during pregnancy and after childbirth is common.
If you are pregnant or have a child under two, help is at hand. Family Action can support your emotional health and well-being by providing a listening ear, encouraging you to share and offload, as well as help you to take part in local groups and activities.
Using a peer support model, they offer an hour each week of listening support, in your home, or remotely. Trained in listening, all their staff and volunteers have parenting experience themselves and understand the challenges you face.
The great news is that we have funded their service to cover the whole of the Bradford District, so more families will be able to benefit from their support.
To find out more or request support, you can contact them by:
Ready to Relate is a programme delivered by Bradford District Care Trust that aims to help you understand your amazing baby!
Head over to the Ready to Relate website where you can find some helpful information and activities to help you build a satisfying and enjoyable relationship with your amazing baby.
The website has self-care activities and techniques to help you, including an online toolkit. Your midwife and health visitor will be able to answer any questions you may have.
The Family Hub and Start for Life programme has funded training for all staff who work with families across the district. If you are a practitioner and would like to know more, please visit Ready to Relate training programme.
Incredible Years Preschool have been funded to deliver a brand new programme for families with children aged 3 to 4 years.
The programme will be suitable for any family that would like a bit of extra help with child attachment issues, language development concerns, their behaviour, or confidence with social situations.
Many families may benefit from this support – this is the generation of babies who were born during the Covid pandemic, where opportunities to socialise were limited during critical stages of babies’ development.
Families can self-refer or practitioners can make a referral with consent.
Find out more and apply by visiting our Parenting Programme Pathway page.
Visit the Talking Bradford Speech and Language Pathway for support.
To get email updates from your Family Hub and the Start for Life offer, click on the name of your local Family Hub below and leave your email address (form will open in a new window/tab).
If you’re not sure what Family Hub area you're in, enter your postcode here to find out.