Whether you’re a parent looking for help with infant feeding, developing your child’s early language skills, or mental health support for your child, families in Barnsley can find a range of useful services at Barnsley Market’s new family hub.

In April, Barnsley Family Hubs officially launched its town centre branch at the market. This new drop-in space is the seventh location in the borough with other family hubs in Athersley, Grimethorpe, Penistone, Thurnscoe, Wombwell and Worsbrough.

Family hubs play a vital role in Barnsley Council’s Great Childhoods Ambition to improve the lives and futures of our children and young people. These local support centres offer a range of services from pregnancy through to early years and right up to the age of 19.

That might be help with infant feeding and weaning, supporting your child’s early development, or mental health support for older children. They focus on providing early intervention support to families, addressing potential difficulties before they escalate.

At Barnsley Market, families can drop in and chat to their friendly staff about the services available at the borough’s larger family hubs.

They run various activities for under-fives, such as stay and play sessions, little talkers for speech development, mini movers dance and music sessions, and a SENDsory play and support group for families with SEND needs. There are also walk and talk groups, peer support services, and youth clubs for teenagers. 

Adding to the offer, the Barnsley Market family hub is also home to NHS Yorkshire Smokefree, supporting more people on their journey to go smoke-free. The hub’s services will soon be further enhanced by the Play Hub, set to open in the coming months.

Since its soft opening in December last year, the hub has already enabled various services to deliver support from the site including Citizens’ Advice Bureau, Infant Feeding, Adult Skills, Targeted Youth Services, Youth Voice, Waythrough, Barnsley Premier Leisure, vaccination services and many more.

The market family hub can be found on the first floor in units 14 to 18, just behind Market Kitchen. It’s open Monday to Thursday 9am until 5pm and Friday 9am until 4.30pm.

To find out more about Barnsley Family Hubs and the services they offer, find them on Facebook or visit the Virtual Family Hub.