St Kilda’s Romford: Havering’s First Family Hub 2026

Key Points

• St Kilda’s Children’s Centre on Eastern Road, Romford, has been selected as the site for Havering’s first family hub to support early childhood development and give children the best start in life.​
• The transformation is backed by a £153,555 grant from the Department for Education (DfE) under the Best Start Family Hubs Development Grant for 2025-2026.
• Services will commence from April 2026, including parenting sessions, home learning programmes, and interventions to improve school readiness and outcomes.​
• Councillor Oscar Ford, Havering Council’s Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, stated: “This is the first of a number of hubs planned for the borough and it will provide parenting support and home learning programmes for families in order to improve children’s outcomes in early childhood. Our aim is to ensure children reach their expected development levels.”​
• Councillor Oscar Ford added: “By ensuring earlier interventions, our hope is that we will reduce the risk of adverse childhood experiences that some young people face, so we can improve the opportunities and life chances of the next generation.”​
• The site was chosen for its location in a disadvantaged area, high footfall, good transport links near Romford town centre, and existing infrastructure.democracy.​
• Satellite hubs at Ingrebourne Children’s Centre and myplace youth centre (also referred to as MyPlace Youth and Community Centre) in Harold Hill will support the initial phase to reach areas of high need.
• The grant focuses on workforce development (training for evidence-based parenting and home learning interventions), marketing strategy, and digital offer development.​
• Havering’s 0-17 population is 63,777 (mid-2024 ONS estimates), with 0-5 year-olds at 20,968; needs assessment highlights deprivation links to poor outcomes and Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs).​
• Wards like Gooshays, Heaton, and Havering Park show highest child development risks based on FSM eligibility, IDACI, GLD, and SEND prevalence.​
• Children’s centres act as one-stop shops for under-fives, offering early education, health care, parenting guidance, employment/training links, and weekly family activities open to all borough families.​
• Cabinet approved the decision on 14 January 2026; further hubs planned borough-wide, with sites under review, especially post-May 2026 Family Welcome Centre opening in Harold Hill.​
• Report authored by Daniel Silva, Assistant Director of Early Help and Partnerships; ELT Lead Tara Geere, Director of Starting Well.​
• Aims align with national target of 75% children reaching Good Levels of Development (GLD) by 2028; statutory duty under Children’s Act.​

Romford (Havering Council News) 14 January 2026 – St Kilda’s Children’s Centre on Eastern Road will transform into Havering’s inaugural family hub, funded by a £153,555 Department for Education grant to bolster early childhood support and school readiness for local families.​

What is the new family hub at St Kilda’s?

St Kilda’s Children’s Centre, located at 90 Eastern Road, Romford, RM1 3QA, has been designated as the primary site for phase one of Havering’s family hub programme. As detailed in the official council announcement, the hub will deliver integrated services across health, education, and social care, functioning as a one-stop shop for under-fives and their families. This includes early education, health care, parenting guidance, and connections to employment and training, building on the centre’s existing weekly programme of family activities available to all borough residents.

The council-run facility already boasts the highest footfall among Havering’s children’s centres, making it an ideal base for expansion. As reported in Havering Council’s news release, the transformation aims to provide parenting sessions and home learning programmes to help children thrive in school. Council staff currently offer information on the range of family activities, ensuring continuity during the transition.

Why was St Kilda’s selected as the site?

Havering Council’s Cabinet approved St Kilda’s on 14 January 2026 as the most suitable location due to its position in a disadvantaged area and excellent accessibility. According to the Key Decision report authored by Daniel Silva, Assistant Director of Early Help and Partnerships, the choice followed analysis of local data from the Joint Strategic Needs Assessment, including Indices of Multiple Deprivation (IMD), Good Level of Development (GLD) rates, free school meal eligibility, early years childcare uptake, healthy weight indicators, Education Health and Care Plans (EHCP) prevalence, and transport links.

St Kilda’s central position near Romford town centre, served by bus and train, ensures reach across the borough, particularly for southern areas like South Hornchurch and Rainham & Wennington. The report notes its existing infrastructure, high service usage, and ability to host co-located services, meeting DfE criteria for a welcoming, accessible site. ELT Lead Tara Geere, Director of Starting Well, oversaw the policy context aligning with the Family Hubs and Best Start in Life Programme.​

Who is funding the family hub transformation?

The Department for Education awarded Havering a Best Start Family Hubs Development Grant of precisely £153,555 for 2025-2026, as one of the local authorities newly funded under the programme. This non-ringfenced funding under Section 31 of the Local Government Act 2003 targets site identification by January 2026 and service rollout from April 2026.democracy.

Grant spend guidance emphasises three areas: developing workforce capacity through training for Evidence Based Interventions (EBI) in parenting and Home Learning Environment (HLE); a marketing strategy for clear communications and branding of the Best Start offer; and an online/digital offer. Minor adaptations at St Kilda’s, extended hours (adding 12 hours weekly, approx. £12k costs), and utilities will draw from the grant and core budgets, with staffing covered by recent restructures.​

What services will the family hub provide?

From April 2026, the hub will roll out parenting programmes, home learning interventions, and mental health services in a flexible, community-based, inclusive model. As per Havering Council’s announcement, these aim to improve early childhood outcomes, reduce Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) like domestic abuse or housing instability, and support the national goal of 75% children achieving Good Levels of Development by 2028.

Delivery will emphasise co-location, digital access, and continuous improvement via local governance. The centre’s current offerings, including breastfeeding drop-ins and expert-led infant feeding support, will integrate into the enhanced model. Weekly family activities remain open to all, promoting social, emotional, and cognitive development.​

What are the satellite hubs and their roles?

Ingrebourne Children’s Centre and myplace youth centre (MyPlace Youth and Community Centre) in Harold Hill, within Gooshays ward, will serve as satellite hubs during the initial phase. These sites target high-need areas identified in the data, including neighbouring Heaton and Havering Park wards with elevated FSM, IDACI, low GLD, and SEND rates.

As recommended in the Cabinet report by Daniel Silva, satellites ensure breadth across 0-25 age range, avoiding stigma and barriers by leveraging youth services at myplace. Both are accessible by bus from high-need northern areas, maximising reach where deprivation links to poor health and development outcomes.​

What did Councillor Oscar Ford say about the initiative?

Councillor Oscar Ford, Cabinet Member for Children and Young People, welcomed the development in the council’s official statement. He said:

“This is the first of a number of hubs planned for the borough and it will provide parenting support and home learning programmes for families in order to improve children’s outcomes in early childhood. Our aim is to ensure children reach their expected development levels.”​

Ford further explained:

“By ensuring earlier interventions, our hope is that we will reduce the risk of adverse childhood experiences that some young people face, so we can improve the opportunities and life chances of the next generation.”

His comments underscore the council’s commitment under the Children’s Act to appropriate local support.

When will services start and what are future plans?

New and enhanced services launch from April 2026, with an implementation plan focusing on grant priorities. Sites remain under frequent review for optimal reach, particularly after the Family Welcome Centre opens in Harold Hill in May 2026.​

This phased approach precedes borough-wide expansion over two to three years, linking to Living Well community hubs. Options considered included retaining the current model (deemed non-viable), single-site delivery (limiting equity), or full rollout (preferring measured phases for refinement).​

What are the broader implications for Havering families?

Havering’s child population growth (4% year-on-year to 63,777 aged 0-17) heightens demand, with deprivation strongly correlating to vulnerabilities like poor physical, social, emotional, cognitive, and behavioural outcomes. Family hubs advance equality under the Public Sector Equality Duty, eliminating discrimination and fostering relations across protected characteristics.​

Health and wellbeing benefits stem from integrated, accessible support, aligning with ‘giving every child the best start in life’ strategy. No environmental impacts noted; equalities, HR, and legal risks are minimal, with finances managed within grant and budgets.