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Monday 2nd March 2026

Welcome to the Best Start Family Hubs Devon Newsletter. This newsletter is your go-to source for the latest training opportunities, events and resources designed to support professionals working with families across Devon. We also share helpful signposting and family activities to help you connect the people you support with the right services at the right time. If you have something to share—whether it’s an event, a resource - or if there’s anything we can do to support you and your community, we’d love to hear from you! This newsletter is published once a fortnight. The next edition will be sent out on Monday 16th March 2026  Please submit your newsletter addition requests by Friday 13th March before Midday to be included in the next edition.  📧 Email us at: business.earlyhelppartnership-mailbox@devon.gov.uk

In our Family Hub Newsletter this week...

• Household Support Fund - Closing date reminder
• Post Separation Abuse Awareness video
• Links Practitioner post - North Devon
• Best Start in Life - Why babies’ first relationships matter
• Volunteer for Home-Start
• SaFest 2026 post event resources
• Home-Start Referrers Event 
• Home-Start South & West - Reducing parental conflict sessions
• Family Hub Practitioner Forum - Thursday 5th March 
• Parental Minds Skills Workshop for Professionals: Supporting someone who causes harm to themselves
• Community Conversations
• SEND Dad walks
• Exeter's Community Mental Health Day
• My Way - CYP Emotional Wellbeing & Mental Health Project

Important information & updates

Household Support Fund - Closing 19th March 2026 (Reminder)

Please be aware that the current round of Household Support Funding (HSF7) is ending, and we will not accept applications after the 19th March 2026.

We will not be able to review any applications after this date.  Please ensure applications made between now and the 19th March have correct bank details and home addresses. Incorrect details will result in delays that could mean families do not receive an approved payment.

Post Separation Abuse Awareness video- Domestic Abuse resources 

Post Separation Abuse Awareness Video

Links Practitioner Post - North Devon 

We are delighted to share details about a part-time job opportunity within the Links Team. If you’d like to find out more about Links and the position, please click the link below. 

Best Start in Life - Why babies’ first relationships matter:

Secure parent–infant relationships underpin a baby’s emotional regulation, resilience, and healthy development, bringing lifelong benefits. A lack of a secure connection significantly increases the risk of anxiety and depression throughout life, and children with insecure attachment are disproportionately represented in child protection systems, care placements, and youth justice.

This report finds that this specialised early support reduces demand for statutory services, improves child and parent wellbeing, and delivers strong social and economic returns. Yet, the report finds that only around 4% of babies and their families in need can currently access specialised parent-infant support, with significant gaps in service provision in rural, coastal, and disadvantaged urban areas, disproportionately affecting families living in poverty, from racialised communities, or experiencing parental mental health challenges.

Based on the significant economic, social and clinical benefits delivered by specialised parent–infant relationship teams, this report calls on the Government to expand access to these vital services across the UK.

https://www.careknowledge.com/media/64568/centreformh_whybabiesfirstrelationshipsmatter.pdf

https://www.careknowledge.com/media/64569/why-babies-first-relationships-matter_parliamentary-briefing.pdf

Volunteer for Home-Start

SaFest 2026 post event resources

Please click on the link below to view copies of both presentations and recordings from all sessions that took place during SaFest 2026. 

Practitioner Training & Events 

Home-Start Referrers Event 

Home-Start in North Devon. Home-Start Exeter, East and Mid Devon alongside Home-Start South & West Devon are delighted to invite you to our upcoming… Referrers Event.

An open event for professionals working with families. Come and meet the teams, learn more about the support we offer, and explore how we can work together to make a difference for local families.

• Bideford Family Hub – Wednesday 18th March
• Ilfracombe Family Hub – Thursday 19th March
• 🕙 Morning session: 10:00–12:00 🕐 Afternoon session: 13:00–15:00

Join us for coffee, cake and conversation. Planning to attend? Please email homestart.shpt@gmail.com by 6th March to let us know you’re coming, we’d love to see you there!

Home-Start South & West also deliver reducing parental conflict sessions

5 sessions, delivered one-to-one or in small groups, to help make a
difference to families.
For intact and separated co-parents. Delivered digitally anywhere
in the UK.

Reducing Parental Conflict Offer - RPC Flyer Feb 25.pdf - Google Drive

Family Hub Practitioner Forum - Thursday 5th March 

We invite you to attend the next Family Hub Practitioner Forum on Thursday 5^th March 9.30-11.30am. We will have speakers on the topic of:

“Getting a Good Education – Improving School Attendance.”

This free session will be held on Microsoft Teams. You will need Microsoft Teams installed on your computer to access the session.

This forum is for anyone working with children, young people and their families and will cover the topic of supporting school attendance. We will explore current research, frameworks, and approaches in working alongside and supporting parents/carers children and young people.

There will be speakers delivering training and information from:

Educational Psychology Team, Wellbeing and Inclusion Team, feedback from the Attendance and Wellbeing Project in East Devon.

Parental Minds Skills Workshop for Professionals: Supporting someone who causes harm to themselves

26^th March 2026, 10am - 3pm, Zoom or 22^nd April 2026, 10am - 3pm, Zoom

This workshop is designed to provide guidance and support for professionals whose individuals hurt themselves when overwhelmed by their emotions. Join us as we explore practical techniques and navigate the complexities of support.

Practitioner & Family Events 

Community Conversations

Our first Community Conversations event of the year will focus on our Community Risk Management Plan.

Join our friendly experts to hear about the process and ask any questions you may have. The event takes place on 6 March 2026, 12-1pm and is free to attend for everyone who lives and works in Devon and Somerset.

Please find more information re the topic for Community Conversations

Community risk management plan engagement 2026 | Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service  please share this with anyone you are working with.

Family Events 

SEND Dad Walks 

Join us for the SEND Dad's Walk in Exeter! It’s a great chance to get outdoors, meet other dads, and have a relaxed stroll. Perfect for anyone wanting some fresh air and good company. Don’t miss out on this in-person event where fun and connection are the main goals! There'll be coffee too.

This currently taking place fortnightly in Exeter, but one will be announced for East Devon soon

Exeter's Community Mental Health Day

My Way - CYP Emotional Wellbeing & Mental Health Project

The project's aim is to support young people in school years 7-11 regarding emotional wellbeing and mental health over a course of 6 weeks in 2 hour sessions, from 4-6pm at the Hive in Exmouth on a Tuesday.  There are 8 spaces available per cohort, the next start date is the 21st of April (after Easter Holidays). 

We'll work through a journal with activity pages related to stress, coping skills, future aspirations, healthy living, creativity, mindfulness, empathy, resilience and more, whilst also doing some fun youth centre activities throughout each session. The program touches on each of these things but is used really as an opportunity to begin conversations with young people and letting them explore how they are feeling and how they are coping with life/giving them support in how to approach situations in life differently.  It is also an opportunity for them to make connections with other young people and have some face to face time with a youthworker. 

For more information please contact: thehiveyc@spacepsm.org

Family Hubs

Request for support form:

Can be completed by family, professionals / practitioners, and Front-door (if appropriate). Link: Submit a family hubs support request - Children, families and education 

Family Hubs advice line 0800 538 5458 (Mon – Fri 10am – 4pm).

Family Hubs for Devon website a central hub for accessing services and information.

Family hubs - Education and Families 

The Family Hubs Team Managers are:

• Kate Freeman (South and West)
• Samantha King (Exeter and East)
• Cathryn Hewitt (North, Torridge, and Mid)

The following requests should be emailed to: business.earlyhelppartnership- mailbox@devon.gov.uk

• Requests for Triage 
• Requests for the Early Help Pregnancy Support Pathway Meeting
• Requests for information be added to our Newsletter
• Requests for the Locality Partnership Meetings

Right for Children support (system/technical advice and support) should be emailed to: business.rightforchildrensecure-mailbox@devon.gov.uk

Please accept our sincere thanks for your support and your ongoing commitment to supporting families that are receiving help from our Early Help Professionals across the county.

Contact us

👉 Contact our Family Hubs team

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