Helping children, young people and families thrive in Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole areas.

Every child deserves the best possible start in life, and sometimes that means making sure families get the right support, at the right time. That’s why we’re proud to be working alongside BCP Council to support the transformation of services through the Early Help Partnership, Family Hub, and Families First programmes.

What Is Early Help?

Early Help is all about stepping in early when families face challenges — whether that’s emotional wellbeing, housing, education, or anything in between. It’s about making sure children and young people get the support they need before things reach a crisis point. The goal? To build stronger families and brighter futures.

What Is the Families First Programme?

The Families First Programme is a bold and collaborative initiative that brings together services across health, education, social care, and the voluntary and community sector (VCS). It’s designed to make support more joined-up, more accessible, and more responsive to what families actually need. Through Family Hubs and community partnerships, the programme is reshaping how services are delivered — with families at the heart of every decision.

Guided by the Marmot Principle

Our work is shaped by the Marmot principle, which focuses on giving every child the best possible start in life. This means tackling inequalities, promoting fairness, and making sure that support is available where and when it’s needed most. It’s about creating communities where children and young people can grow up healthy, safe, and full of potential — no matter their background.

How we’re supporting the transformation

We’re here to champion and strengthen the amazing work of charities and community groups across Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole. Here’s how we’re helping:

• Growing volunteering and youth engagement
  From volunteer fairs to tailored training and role matching, we’re helping people of all ages get involved and make a difference.
• Making support easier to find and access
  Our information stations, Early Help Professional Network, and ACSS shared data initiatives help families and professionals connect with the right services quickly and easily.
• Listening to communities and amplifying their voices
  Through focus groups, forums, and events, we’re gathering real insight from local people to shape services that truly reflect community needs.
• Ensuring charities and community groups have a seat at the table
  Through our VCS Involvement Partners, we are making sure charities and community groups are part of key conversations and decisions — from strategic boards to transformation workshops — so that services are shaped by those who know their communities best.
• Connecting services for a seamless experience
  We’re linking up schools, health services, early years settings, and Family Hubs with charities and community groups to create a joined-up approach to Early Help.

Together, we’re building a network of support where children, young people, and families can feel seen, heard, and supported — every step of the way.

Get involved

Contact Debs, our Transformation Lead – Children & Young People, if your organisation supports children, young people or families in the Bournemouth, Christchurch & Poole areas. Let’s work together to build stronger communities and brighter futures.