Practical tools, research evidence and examples from local authorities successfully embedding parent voice in their family hubs.
For the accompanying slides please visit our Knowledge Hub Home - LGA National Centre for Family Hubs - Knowledge Hub
Resources and Examples: Parent Co-Design in Family Hubs
Webinar
Building Effective Parent Carer Panels with examples from Coventry and Doncaster
In this webinar, you'll hear directly from practitioners in Coventry and Doncaster who have successfully established parent carer panels in their Family Hubs. They'll share their experiences, practical strategies, and lessons learned—from initial setup and recruitment through to maintaining engagement and translating parent insights into meaningful service improvements.
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Leading Local Authority Examples
Blackpool Family Hubs
Blackpool has developed a strong parent participation model with their Family Hub network, establishing a Parent Advisory Board that influences strategic decisions across their Start for Life programme.
What they do well:
- Parents sit on commissioning panels for new services
- Regular "you said, we did" updates demonstrating impact
- Payment for parent participation to recognise expertise
- Specific outreach to fathers and underrepresented groups
Website: www.blackpool.gov.uk/familyhubs
Leeds Family Hubs
Leeds has embedded co-production across their Family Hub model with parent champions in each locality working alongside professional teams.
What they do well:
- Parent champions receive training
- Co-designed their Family Hub branding and communication materials
- Parents involved in staff recruitment and training delivery
- Youth voice panels for older children and young people
Website: www.leeds.gov.uk/familyhubs
Doncaster Family Hubs
Doncaster's "Families First" approach centres parent voice throughout their integrated family hub model.
What they do well:
- Parent-led peer support services commissioned through co-design
- Co-produced accessibility standards for all hub venues
- Parents contribute to service evaluation and quality monitoring
- Strong focus on digital inclusion in participation methods
Website: www.doncaster.gov.uk/familyhubs
North Yorkshire Family Hubs Network
North Yorkshire has developed innovative approaches to engaging parents across their large rural area.
What they do well:
- Virtual parent panels to overcome geographic barriers
- Community outreach workers supporting engagement in isolated communities
- Co-designed their Start for Life pathway with diverse parent groups
- Quarterly parent forums linked to strategic decision-making
Stoke-on-Trent Family Hubs
Stoke has prioritised parent voice in transforming their early help offer through the Family Hub model.
What they do well:
- Parent involvement in redesigning physical hub spaces
- Co-produced welcome and referral processes
- Parents co-facilitate some parenting programmes
- Strong partnerships with parent-carer forum and voluntary sector
Website: www.stoke.gov.uk/familyhubs
National Resources and Guidance
Department for Education: Family Hubs and Start for Life Programme
Official guidance on the family hub model including expectations for family voice and co-production. Link: Family Hubs and Start for Life programme: local authority guide 2025 to 2026 - GOV.UK
National Centre for Family Hubs
Practical resources, case studies, and learning from family hub implementation across England. Link: National Centre for Family Hubs | Local Government Association
The Best Start for Life: A Vision for the 1,001 Critical Days
Andrea Leadsom's review that established the policy foundation for family hubs, emphasising family voice. Link: www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-best-start-for-life-a-vision-for-the-1001-critical-days
Best Start Family Hubs and Healthy Babies- preparing for implementation April 2026
Guidance to help all local authorities prepare for provision of Best Start Family Hubs from April 2026 Best Start Family Hubs and Healthy Babies: guidance for local authorities - GOV.UK
Practical Guides
Social Care Institute for Excellence (SCIE): Co-production
Evidence reviews, practical guides, and training resources on co-production approaches. Link: www.scie.org.uk/co-production
Think Local Act Personal: Co-production Resources
Guidance on person-centred and co-produced approaches in health and social care. Link: www.thinklocalactpersonal.org.uk/co-production-in-commissioning-tool
Participation and Engagement Specialists
Coram Voice
Expertise in children and young people's participation, including family voice in service design. Email: [email protected] Website: www.coramvoice.org.uk
National Voices
Organisation promoting person and community-centred approaches in health and social care. Website: www.nationalvoices.org.uk
Parent-Led Organisations
Contact (for families with disabled children)
National charity providing expertise on involving parents of children with SEND in service design. Helpline: 0808 808 3555 Website: www.contact.org.uk
Home-Start UK
Volunteer-led family support charity with extensive experience of peer support and parent involvement. Website: www.home-start.org.uk
National Childbirth Trust (NCT)
Parent charity with local networks that can support family hub engagement, particularly for Start for Life. Website: www.nct.org.uk
Dad Matters
Specialises in father-inclusive practice and engaging fathers in family services. Website: www.dad.info
Research and Evidence
Foundations
Evidence on what works in early help and prevention, including guidance on engaging families. Website: Foundations - Evidence Driven Change Making
Parent-Infant Foundation
Expertise in the conception to age two period, with guidance on co-production in perinatal services. Website: www.parentinfantfoundation.org.uk
Commissioning and Quality Frameworks
Better Start Bradford
A Better Start programme with strong evaluation of co-production approaches in early years services. Website: www.betterstartbradford.org.uk
Family Rights Group
Guidance on family group decision-making and family-led approaches in children's services. Website: www.frg.org.uk
Investing in Children
Membership organisation supporting children and young people's participation, including quality awards. Website: www.investinginchildren.net
Regional Networks
Many areas have established regional family hub networks for peer learning and sharing practice. Contact your regional Department for Education lead or local authority family hub coordinator to connect with:
- Regional Family Hub Implementation Networks (facilitated by DfE)
- Local Maternity and Neonatal System (LMNS) partnership groups (for Start for Life integration)
- Voluntary sector infrastructure organisations in your area
- Communities of Practice facilitated by National Centre for Family Hub Regional Leads (facilitated by LGA)
Contact for Further Support
National Centre for Family Hubs For queries about family hub implementation and sharing your local practice examples. Website: National Centre for Family Hubs | Local Government Association Email: [email protected]