From Bumps to Babies, The Rt Hon Dame Andrea Leadsom Celebrates Halton’s Universal Family Hub Support
15 August 2025
Families, professionals, and community leaders welcomed the Rt Hon Dame Andrea Leadsom to Halton today (15 August), where she visited Brookvale Family Hub to see first-hand how services across Runcorn and Widnes are supporting babies and families during the vital early years of life.
The visit, hosted by Halton Borough Council in partnership with the NHS and community organisations, coincided with the Family Hub’s monthly Baby Shower information event — a relaxed and welcoming session offering practical support for expectant and new parents.
Dame Andrea, the Founder and Chair of the Trustees of the 1001 Critical Days Foundation, met with families and frontline staff who shared the wide range of services available through Halton’s Start for Life offer. She described the Family Hub as “a brilliant example of what’s possible when local services come together to support families in the early years”.
Dame Andrea has long championed support for families, drawing on both personal experience and her work in Parliament. As a mother who experienced postnatal depression, she founded charities to help parents bond with their babies and has led national efforts to improve early years support through initiatives such as the Family Hubs and Start for Life programme. Since stepping away from frontline politics, her efforts are now solely focused in helping to improve outcomes for all babies across the world through her new charity, the 1001 Critical Days Foundation. Speaking about her visit today, Dame Andrea said:
“By supporting parents and carers across Halton, the Family Hub network is making a real difference to the lives of babies. It’s been a joy to meet families at Brookvale today and to see the incredible support on offer – from pregnancy advice to playgroups, breastfeeding help to emotional wellbeing, as well as specialist support for dads. These universal, open-access services support every parent to give their baby the best start in life.”
Halton Family Hubs bring lots of services together in one place, making it easier for families with babies and children aged 0 to 19, or 25 with special educational needs or a disability, to navigate the help available.
Family Hubs are located in the heart of communities across Runcorn and Widnes and offer a wide range of services that all families in Halton are entitled to, including:
• Free events, activities and groups for babies and children
• Personal and group support from trusted, friendly and experienced staff
• Connections to lots of other services, staff can help you find what you need – debt advice, job search, housing and more
• Antenatal and postnatal clinics
• Infant feeding and breastfeeding support – rates in Halton have risen significantly in recent years and now nearly 40% of mothers are breastfeeding.
• ‘Dadicated’ services and groups designed especially for dads with Dad Matters and Parents in Mind
• Start for Life Emotional Health and Wellbeing Team - support for families during the years up to baby turning two with emotional health and wellbeing, bonding with baby and much more
• Family Hub Online – the online home of Halton Family Hubs with free access to trusted information and support via web and app.
Councillor Tom McInerney, Executive Board Member for Children and Young People, said: “We’re very proud of our Halton Family Hubs and the partnership of local organisations who support families across our borough. We want every child to have the best start in life and Family Hubs give every family the opportunity to access free, local and trusted services and support.
“Dame Andrea’s visit has been a fantastic opportunity to showcase the progress we’ve made and the difference these hubs are making in our communities.
“Raising a family can be the most challenging job in the world and we’re here to help – in person or online at haltonfamilyhubs.co.uk.”
To find your nearest Family Hub or learn more about the support available in Halton, visit:
🌐 www.haltonfamilyhubs.co.uk
📧 Email: familyhubs@halton.gov.uk
Editors’ Notes
The Start for Life campaign provides trusted NHS help and advice to parents. It focusses on the key topics of breastfeeding, introducing solid foods and developing communication, language and literacy skills through encouraging parents to chat, play and read with their children.
Better Health Start for Life | Campaigns | Campaign Resource Centre
The 1001 Critical Days Foundation believes every baby deserves the best start in life. Through grant funding, commissioning research and championing the importance of the 1001 critical days, they help lay the essential building blocks for lifelong emotional and physical wellbeing for babies around the world.
Early Years Charity | 1001 Critical Days Foundation