About Us

A hub and spoke model Children’s Centre

Some children’s centres will provide full day-care and other facilities on-site, whilst others operate under a hub and spoke system.

Broadwater Childrens CentreA small ‘hub’ base exists from where the centre is co-ordinated as well as being an easy-to-reach contact point for parents and professionals. The ‘spokes’ of the centre are all the partner groups, including childcare and health, whose services are provided out in the local community. Together all these groups make up the children’s centre.

In the case of Broadwater Children’s Centre, Shephalbury Meadow Federation (Longmeadow Primary School and Shephalbury Park Primary School) and Roebuck Primary School are the hub and the spokes are the different agencies and groups that we are working with.

Children’s centre staff

As this is a hub and spoke model Children’s Centre, there are very few staff directly employed to work in the Children’s Centre.

Manager: Sharon Bell

Support Worker: Linda Newton

Project Development Worker Speech & Language Support: Andrea Hall

Admin Assistant: Teresa Killworth

All staff can be contacted via the Children’s Centre contact details at the top of the page.

Services we provide

Angels Support Group

for Parents/Carers of Children with Autistic Spectrum Disorder and ADHC (Hitchin & Stevenage)

A support group run by parents for parents and carers of children with a diagnosis of ADHC or an autistic spectrum disorder, or who are being asessed for the above.

The group offers support and advice to bring parents and carers together to share experiences and reduce isolation. We have a qulaified group facilitator and professional guest speakers are also invited to help with new strategies for coping.

Weaning/Starting Well

These groups are for parents and carers to gain access to current information and support when weaning their babay on to solid food.

We help parents and carers to overcome anxieties and concerns and share good practice, supporting the Start for Life campaign to give children a healthy start in life.

This group follows the Baby led weaning guidlines from the Department of health.

Courses/Training

All our courses are planned to meet your needs. Don’t wait to see what’s on offer why not call in and let us know what you would like offered.

We plan our courses in conjuction with the college, Hertfordshire Adult Learning Service and other local training providers.

Breastfeeding

A drop-in support group facilitated by trained volunteers who have breastfed their children themselves, and managed by the Breastfeeding Support Network.

Parents can gain support and practical advice on how to breastfeed sucessfully.

Baby Clinic

A drop-in session for parents and carers to have their child weighed.

These sessions are facilitated by the Health team, and a Health Visitor and Community Nursery Nurse will be available for advice and support during the session.

Toy Library

Toy Library sessions where families can access quality resources for children under five years of age.

Annual membership enables parents, carers and early years practitioners to borrow resources to support children’s learning and development.

Family Law

Specialist in family law, financial advice and court support available through the Children’s Centre. Free of charge.

Stevenage Homes

Free advice and support service for tenants of Stevenage Council Housing living in the Broadwater area.

Vision Statement

Families have the skills, strength and support to be all that they can be.

Our mission to to be:

Develop skills and aspirations through workshops, courses and access to quality training.

To build strength and independence through healthy lifestyles for the mind and body.

To support and guide through difficult times and empower families to make positive things happen.

To celebrate achievements.