Children's services
Walsall Libraries join Best Start Family Hubs network, bringing family support closer to communities
Published on
Families across Walsall will have greater access to activities, advice and support through their local libraries as they join Walsall Council’s Best Start Family Hubs network.
Walsall Libraries are the latest community venues to join the network, which connects families with local services, advice and opportunities designed to help children get the best possible start in life.
The Best Start Family Hub offer will be delivered across all seven libraries, with services and activities available at each site. Lichfield Street Hub and Darlaston Community Library are designated as official Family Hub spoke sites, with Streetly Community Library currently being trialled as a spoke site. The library service complements the borough’s four main Best Start Family Hubs and the existing network of community spoke sites across Walsall.
The expansion of the Family Hubs network also supports Walsall's 2040 ambition to become a child-friendly borough, and where children and young people are healthy, safe, happy and able to thrive.
Across Walsall’s Libraries, families will be able to access a range of activities focused on children’s development, family wellbeing and positive outcomes from the earliest years, giving families the opportunity to access support in familiar and welcoming local library spaces.
Families will be able to access a range of support and activities, including:
Free stay and plays – Giving parents and carers the opportunity to play with their children, meet other parents, share experiences and relax in a safe and friendly environment.
Triple P for Baby – A free six-week parenting support group where parents and carers can meet others and discuss a range of topics, including sleep, routines and play.
EPEC (Empowering Parents, Empowering Communities) – A group where parents and carers can connect, share experiences and learn from one another, with practical advice and support for everyday parenting.
PEEP Sessions (Parents and Early Education Partners) – Interactive sessions where parents, carers and children can learn and have fun together through songs, stories and play. Sessions also explore simple ways to support children’s learning through everyday activities at home. The programme has been quality assured and recognised by AIM Qualifications and Assessment Group (AIM Q&A).
“ We are delighted to welcome Walsall Libraries to our growing Best Start Family Hubs network. Our libraries are already trusted and welcoming places for families, so they are a natural fit for bringing more support and opportunities closer to our communities.
By extending Family Hub services into local libraries, we can make it easier for parents and carers to access health, wellbeing and early years support in places they already know and use. This is another important step towards giving every child the very best start in life and supporting our wider We Are Walsall 2040 ambition.
It’s fantastic to see colleagues from across our Family Hubs, library and wider council services working together to create more opportunities for families. Together, we are strengthening our Healthy Babies and 0-5 offer, ensuring families can access the support they need, where and when they need it most.
I’m looking forward to seeing this partnership continue to grow and make a positive difference for children and families across the borough. “
“ It’s fantastic to see Walsall Libraries joining our Best Start Family Hubs network. Our libraries are at the heart of communities across the borough, providing safe and welcoming spaces where people can access information, meet others and take part in activities.
Bringing Family Hub support into these familiar local spaces gives more families the opportunity to access activities and support close to home. The launch event was a great example of what can be achieved when our library teams and volunteers, Family Hubs and wider partners come together to support local families.
I’d like to thank everyone involved in bringing this partnership together, and I’m looking forward to seeing the programme develop across all seven of our libraries. “
The partnership launched on Friday 18 September 2026 with an event at Walsall’s Lichfield Street Hub, where families could try activities and find out more about the support available. The event also brought together staff and volunteers from Walsall Works, Walsall Connected, Family Hubs and Library Services.
The Family Hub offer will be available across Walsall’s seven libraries, with Lichfield Street Hub and Darlaston Community Library designated as official spoke sites and Streetly Community Library being trialled as a spoke site.
Best Start Family Hubs are at the heart of Walsall's commitment to improving outcomes for children, young people and families. They provide a one-stop network of support from pregnancy through childhood and adolescence, bringing together services that help families navigate life's challenges and celebrate its milestones.
The hubs offer information, advice, activities and specialist support on a wide range of issues, including infant feeding, child development, school readiness, parenting support, emotional wellbeing, SEND, relationships and family health. By working closely with partners across health, education, community and voluntary services, family hubs support local parents and carers to help they may need through a connected and coordinated approach.
Walsall's four main Best Start Family Hubs are located at:
Best Start Family Hub – North Walsall
North Walsall: 275 Blakenall Lane, Blakenall, Walsall, WS3 1HJ
Best Start Family Hub – West Walsall
Ilmington House, Crescent Road, Wednesbury, WS10 8AE
Best Start Family Hub - Central and South Walsall
Birchills Street, Walsall, WS2 8NF
Best Start Family Hub - East Walsall
Silver Court, Walsall, WS8 6HA
Together with a growing network of community spokes, and the wider Family Hub offer available through community venues including Walsall’s libraries, the hubs aim to ensure that children in Walsall have the best possible start in life.
For more information on activities available across Walsall’s Libraries, visit: https://go.walsall.gov.uk/walsall-libraries
To find out more about Best Start Family Hubs, upcoming activities and available support, visit: https://family-hubs.walsall.gov.uk/
For the latest updates, follow Walsall Families in the Know on Facebook.
Walsall Family Hubs and Library staff outside of the Lichfield Street Hub Library
Interior of the Family Hub's space inside of the Lichfield Street Hub library
Interior of the Family Hub's space inside of the Lichfield Street Hub library (
Child taking part in activites at the Lichfield Street Hub library
