12th February 2024

Welcome to our February half term edition of Family Hubs, Your Child and You, our first in collaboration with our partners ECP Children’s Centres!

In this edition you’ll find the latest news from Family Hubs and an introduction to Multiply, the Healthy Start Scheme, Tiny Explorers and support for Emotional Wellbeing.

Learn new maths skills with Multiply!

Multiply have been delivering some fantastic, fun short courses from the Family Hub in Queens Park over the last month. From learning to plait hair perfectly to making your own draught excluder.

These introductory workshops help build your confidence with essential everyday maths skills and to apply them to tasks at work and at home.

More courses here

Tiny Explorers

Tiny explorers is a new course for parents and babies at the Children’s Centres. Babies are given a selection of everyday objects to explore using all their senses. Each week you will be given an item to add to your own home collection!

The course will start on the 27th February and will consist of 5 weekly sessions, and will cost £11.55.

Book Now

Healthy Start Scheme

If you’re more than 10 weeks pregnant or have a child under 4, you might be able to get help to buy healthy food and milk.

If you’re eligible, you’ll be sent a Healthy Start card with money on it that you can use in some UK shops. Your card will be topped up every 4 weeks.

Find out more…

Bedford Repair Café

Bedford repair Café is run by volunteers to help you save money and the planet. Come along to fix your electricals, toys, bikes, clothes and learn a thing or two.

No booking required, just turn up and queue with one item per household fixed for free. Events are held quarterly at Project 229 on Bedford Road, Kempston. MK42 8DA.

Find dates here

Have you heard about…

Emotional Wellbeing support in Bedford?

From the time you are pregnant to the when your child steps into adulthood, there are services in Bedford that can support parents, carers, children and young people with emotional wellbeing and mental health.

Whether you want to understand more about how you’re feeling and find ways to feel better, or you want to support someone who may be struggling, there is someone who can help.

Mind the Bump and Mind the Baby

Mind the Bump and Mind the Baby are weekly women only wellbeing groups, run from the Family Hub Children’s Centres offering emotional support in a safe environment to address low mood, anxiety and/or depression.

Mind the Bump is for women during pregnancy and Mind the Baby is for women from the time your baby is born until they are 12 months old.

Young Minds

Young Minds is an independent national charity that offers support to young people coping with mental health issues and to parents/carers who are worried about the young people they are supporting.

Their website has mental health information and resources for young people and their parents/carers.

Healthier Together

This NHS website provides young people, parents and pregnant women across Bedfordshire, Luton & Milton Keynes with consistent and high-quality advice from local health professionals.

You’ll find clear information on mental health, common childhood illnesses, signs and symptoms and where to seek help if required.

Lumi Nova

Lumi Nova: Tales of Courage is an exciting adventure designed for kids aged 7-12. The free app helps children gradually face and overcome their fears and worries, using a technique called graded exposure.

This practical and age-appropriate app avoids any stigma, encourages self-management, and offers real-time progress and health outcomes. Parents or caregivers can join in to offer support while using this helpful tool on smartphones or tablets.

What’s on for families…

The Higgins have lots of free fun events happening for children from 1-12 years old. From Tall tales with Toby to art with local artists.

Fit and Fed is a free, fun programme which keeps young people aged 8-14 from low-income families active and well-nourished at the weekends.

Street Tag is an app for all ages which encourages you to walk, run, scoot or bike around Bedford to collect tags and points to win prizes! There are primary school and community leader boards for you to join.

There are lots of activities for under 5s on at the Family Hubs Children’s Centres, check out the Spring Timetable to find out more.

The Parent Carer Forum have a whole host of events and drop in session to support families of children with SEND this term.

Place theatre are running Jackastory sessions for 0-6 year olds fortnightly, and every week during school holidays. Listen to members of The Place team read their chosen children’s stories

Bedford Borough Libraries will be running free craft activities from Monday 19^th February – Friday 23^rd February. Bring your kids along for some fun free crafts at the Library this half term, decorate a llama finger puppet or make your very own crazy caterpillar.

Have you seen the new Bedford Art Trail?Using this map, you’ll be able to explore Bedford’s thriving Arts scene: museums and galleries; music and theatre; creative venues and community events.

Meet the Author of Llama Glamorama at Bedford Central Library perfect for 4-7 year olds. No need to book – just come along. From 11:30 until 12:15 on Wed 21/02/24

Join author Simon James Green for his laugh out loud talk about how to survive life a teenager in ‘Own the Awkward’. Aimed at young people aged 12+. Tickets are £2 each. On 21/02/24 from 14:30 to 15:30.

Register with your local Children’s Centre

Bedford Borough Family Hubs

Queens Park Family Hub

Marlborough Road, Bedford, MK40 4LE

Pine Cones Family Hub

Slade Walk, Bedford, MK41 7SA

Opening hours: 8:30am – 4:30pm Monday to Friday

Telephone ECP Children’s Centres: 0300 323 0245

Telephone Family Information Service: 0800 023 2057 (24 hour answerphone service)

Email: Familyhubs@bedford.gov.uk

Visit our Family Hubs Online – Best Start Bedford website