Welcome to our winter edition
Welcome to this edition of the Family Hubs professionals newsletter. This brings together in one place the latest news, resources and opportunities from Bristol City Council and our partners.
In this edition we launch our new potty training animation with ERIC.
We introduce Plinth, our new digital gateway, which makes it easier for families to find support and book activities. Please join the next alliance meetings to help shape how we use it.
You can also learn about our work with faith communities, the South Bristol Jobs and Apprenticeships Fair, the Emergency Provision of Infant Formula Pathway, and a chance to have your say on children’s community health services.
Please share these updates with your teams and send us your upcoming news. |
|
|
New potty training animation
Bristol Family Hubs has teamed up with ERIC, The Children’s Bowel & Bladder Charity, to launch a short animation with clear, practical steps for potty and toilet training.
It promotes good bowel and bladder health from the earliest years and shows families where to find support. Please share it with your networks.
Councillor Christine Townsend, Chair of the Children and Young People Committee, said: “At Bristol City Council, we want every family to have timely, practical support for potty and toilet training. This new animation, created with ERIC and Bristol Family Hubs, sets out clear, simple steps that parents and carers can follow and helps make a sometimes tricky stage feel more manageable.”
|
Our new digital gateway
From February, Family Hubs will start using a new digital platform called Plinth. It will help families find, book and access support in their local community.
Through a simple, free membership, families will:
- view and book activities
- receive timely, relevant information
- access support based on where they live and what matters to them
- connect more easily with Family Hubs
For families, this will help create a clearer, more connected experience for accessing Family Hub services. Rather than navigating multiple sources, families will access everything through one trusted Family Hubs route. For partners, Plinth lets everyone see engagement in one place across Family Hubs and community services. This helps us build a clearer, joined‑up picture of what families experience in each local area. Discover Plinth’s approach to Family Hubs.How you can help
Please look out for the Family Hubs membership launch and help encourage families and young people to sign up. Membership will be the main way to book activities and receive local information. Please also join our next alliance meetings to learn more about the opportunities. |
Family Hub alliance meetings
Join us on Monday 23 February to find out more about the new Family Hubs digital gateway. We will share what it means for you and how we can work together.
The digital gateway focuses on what matters most to families and communities. We will look at how the platform will:
- support the wellbeing of children and families
- identify needs earlier and offer support sooner
- help people feel more connected and less isolated
- support pathways into learning, work and financial independence
You can attend one of the following sessions:
- Hartcliffe Family Hub, 9.30am to 11am
- Southmead Family Hub, 12pm to 1.30pm
- Wellspring Settlement Family Hub, 3pm to 4.30pm
The meetings are open to Family Hub partners who want to understand the changes and help shape how the digital gateway is used locally. |
Learning from Bristol: faith partnerships and Family Hubs
The National Centre for Family Hubs has published a new case study showing how Bristol Family Hubs and The Good Faith Partnership work together with local faith communities.
The case study shares practical learning on how Family Hubs across the country can build stronger relationships with faith groups. It shows how this work helps families access support in ways that feel trusted, inclusive and culturally relevant.
The research highlights that faith groups already provide a large amount of support for children and families. Much of this happens through trusted, relationship‑based activities that families already know and use. In spring, we will launch an interactive map showing around 100 faith‑based children and family activities near Family Hub sites across the city. Developed by The Good Faith Partnership, the map will help families find support they recognise and trust. We will bring partners together to explore the learning from this work and to launch the new map. These sessions will be a chance to:
- explore the map together
- share learning from your own work
- build stronger relationships across Family Hubs and faith communities
Read the case study |
Best Start in Life: family survey
Our new Best Start in Life plan starts on 1 April 2026. We want every baby, child and family to get the right support from pregnancy to age five.
Family Hubs, midwives, health visitors, speech and language therapy teams, nurseries, schools, libraries and community groups will work more closely together. This will make it easier for families to find information and get help at the right time.
We want to hear from families and professionals so we can shape the plan together. That’s why we have created a short survey.
Complete the Best Start in Life: Family Survey
The survey takes around two to three minutes to complete. Please respond by 5pm on Monday 17 February.
For more information about the Best Start in Life Plan, email Family Hubs. |
Emergency infant formula pathway
Bristol City Council has launched a new Emergency Provision of Infant Formula Pathway to help babies needing support. The aim is to reduce the risk of unsafe feeding practices and make sure families get help at the right time.
Professionals and volunteers can start using the pathway now. The rising cost of living and the increasing price of infant formula mean more families are struggling to afford enough formula to feed their babies safely. We are running free webinars for people who work with or support families. This includes staff and volunteers in Family Hubs, community organisations, food clubs, health services, social care and the voluntary sector. The sessions will cover:
- how the pathway works
- when and how to refer
- what support is available for families
Learn more about the Emergency Provision of Infant Formula pathway. |
|
|
South Bristol jobs and apprenticeships fair
The South Bristol Jobs and Apprenticeships Fair returns this February. Now in its tenth year, the free fair brings together local employers, training providers and support organisations, all offering real opportunities.
Event details:
- Thursday 12 February 2026, 2:30-5:30pm
- South Bristol Skills Academy, City of Bristol College, The Boulevard, Hengrove Park, BS14 0DB
The event is aimed at young people living in Bristol South, as well as people:
- looking for their first job
- thinking about changing careers
- interested in training or apprenticeships
- wanting to build new skills for the future
For more information, contact the Skills Connect Team on 0117 332 1500 or send an email. |
Bristol Food Education Charter
The Bristol Food Education Charter brings together what children and young people across the city say food education should look like.
The Bristol Food Education Charter brings together what children and young people across the city say food education should look like. More than 300 children and young people took part in the work. The Participatory Research Fund funded the project, and The Children’s Kitchen delivered it with the University of Bristol, led by Dr Will Baker. Through hands‑on cooking and eating activities, young people shared their ideas about how they want to learn about food. The charter captures these ideas, along with a research booklet, practical toolkits, posters and two Freedom Kids podcasts. The project supports schools, play settings and youth organisations to strengthen food education. This includes:
- listening to young people when planning menus
- using appealing and affordable recipes
- celebrating different cultures through food
- creating spaces where children can grow food
We are now working with partners and young people to create more resources and run workshops. If you have stories about food education projects, or ideas about what resources would be useful, email Feeding Bristol. Learn more about Bristol Food Education Charter. |
|
|
|
Have your say on children’s community health services
Share your views on children’s community health services in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire (BNSSG).
The local Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board is working with councils, NHS teams and voluntary and community organisations to shape these services. They want to know what works and what needs to improve. They want to hear from:
- parents, carers and families
- professionals who support children and young people
- The survey is anonymous and takes around 10 minutes.
|
|
|
Free online learning on health and wellbeing
Flexible courses designed to support people who work with communities and families. You can access the free online courses through OpenLearn Create.
SmokeFree Bristol essentials training
Developed by Bristol City Council’s Public Health team, this course is for people who work with or support people who smoke. It helps you understand smoking addiction and the stop smoking support available in Bristol.
Why weight? Changing the narrative around obesity
This course explores the complex factors that affect weight and health. It challenges common assumptions and includes insight from lived experience and expert voices.
Explore the free courses on OpenLearn Create.
|
|
|
Want to share something in the next newsletter? Email us. |
This email was sent by Bristol City Council. You are receiving this email because you opted in to receiving news from Bristol City Council via the Family Hubs Stakeholder newsletter. You can view the council’s full privacy statement for more information on how we manage your data.
|
|
|
|
|
