Enhancing family support in West Northamptonshire

25 March 2025

Families across Northamptonshire are set to benefit from enhanced family support as the countywide Early Years Universal Service, Strong Start move across to join Family Hubs from April 2025.

In a move to better serve families, West Northamptonshire Council (WNC) and North Northamptonshire Council (NNC) have decided to deliver two separate contracts to provide the service at a local level.

This aligns with other jointly commissioned arrangements across the 0-19 service, aiming to ensure collaborative working across the area. From April 2025, the west-based Strong Start team will transition from WNC Libraries to join and enhance the development of Family Hubs. This will ensure that families receive comprehensive support, from pregnancy through to young adulthood, in a single, accessible location.

The Strong Start service will continue to be funded and overseen by WNC Public Health, maintaining its commitment to delivering key public health early years priorities. The knowledgeable and skilled Strong Start team will be a valuable addition to the Family Hub workforce, enhancing the overall service offer.

The service will retain the Strong Start name and branding to preserve the trust and  reputation it has built with families and professionals over the years.

Some Strong Start sessions will be bookable in advance via ticketsource. For more information and to access the Family Hubs, please visit the West Northamptonshire Council Family Hubs website