Croydon families will soon have more support on their doorstep, with the announcement of a family hub at the Samuel Coleridge-Taylor Centre in South Norwood. The opening of this hub marks another milestone in the Council’s commitment to making sure Croydon’s families have access to the services they need, when they need them, in one convenient place.
The new family hub joins the existing Woodlands Family Hub in Selsdon, creating a network of local, accessible services for families across the borough. Whilst Woodlands focuses on supporting younger children and their families, the Samuel Coleridge-Taylor Family Hub will have a greater emphasis on services for older children and young adults. Working in partnership with schools, health services, and community organisations, the hub will provide a seamless support system for families, making sure no one misses out on the help they need.
The launch of this second family hub is part of a broader transformation of family services in Croydon on which the Council will be seeking residents’ views. Over the coming months, children’s centre services in the north and centre of the borough, will be brought back in-house at the Council. This follows the successful model already in place in South Croydon, where children’s centres are run by the local authority, and will ensure a more joined-up approach.
All services currently delivered through children’s centres will continue as usual during the transition to the new family hub model, and families can be reassured that the support they currently receive will continue without interruption. This means families will continue to see the same familiar staff and access the same trusted support they rely on. This will give families continuity and service providers time to adapt to the new way of working. There will also be a public consultation later this year when the Council will ask residents for their views on transforming children’s centres into family hubs.
Family hubs are currently funded by a central government grant until March 2026. In Croydon, the Council is working with partners and the community to develop a sustainable model that will keep these vital services running for years to come. An important part of the family hub programme is the involvement of Croydon residents through the Parent Carer Panel, which gives local families a voice in shaping the services they receive.
Unlike traditional children’s centres, which offer support from pregnancy to age five, family hubs bring together services that offer support from pregnancy to age 19, or age 25 with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities. The opening of the new family hub is an important step that will make a real difference to families with children of all ages across Croydon, now and in the future.
“I’m really pleased to announce Croydon’s second Family Hub, giving local families easier access to the support they need, all in one place. Family Hubs are all about making life easier for parents and carers by bringing services together, so families get the right help at the right time.
“We are currently transforming the services we offer to families across the borough, to deliver a more coordinated approach and to ensure that families continue to receive the support they need.
“We are committed to making Croydon’s Family Hubs a lasting part of our community, supporting children, young people, and families now and in the future.”
Jason Perry, Executive Mayor of Croydon
Notes
- Croydon is one of 75 Local Authorities who were awarded funding from the Department for Education and the Department of Health and Social Care to roll out family hubs across the borough.
- Family hubs bring together a wide range of support for parents, carers, children, and young people up to the age of 19, or 25 for those with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND). They offer advice on everything from infant feeding and early development to mental health and employment support, all under one roof.
- Croydon’s approach aligns with the national family hubs initiative, which aims to strengthen family support by improving access, making services easier to navigate, and building strong relationships between families and professionals.
- For more information on family hubs in Croydon, visit the Council website.
