St Kilda’s Children’s Centre on Eastern Road will be transformed into a new family hub as part of Havering Council’s plans to support early childhood development.
Backed by £153,000 in funding from the Department for Education, the hub will offer parenting sessions and home learning programmes to improve school readiness and early learning outcomes.
Oscar Ford, Havering Council’s cabinet member for children and young people, said: “This is the first of a number of hubs planned for the borough and it will provide parenting support and home learning programmes for families in order to improve children’s outcomes in early childhood. Our aim is to ensure children reach their expected development levels.
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“By ensuring earlier interventions, our hope is that we will reduce the risk of adverse childhood experiences that some young people face, so we can improve the opportunities and life chances of the next generation.”
The council selected St Kilda’s as the most suitable site due to its location in a disadvantaged area and good transport links, making it easily accessible for families.
Children’s centres are designed as one-stop shops for under-fives and their families, offering early education, health care, parenting guidance, and links to employment and training services.
The centre has a weekly programme of family activities and support, available to all families who live in the borough.
Ingrebourne Children’s Centre and myplace youth centre, both in Harold Hill, will be used as satellite hubs to St Kilda’s during the initial phase to ensure support reaches other areas in the borough where a need has been identified.
St Kilda’s is ideally situated close to Romford town centre and is well served by bus and train links. Council staff at the centre can provide information on the range of family activities in the weekly activity programme.
The grant will be used to develop existing and new services to be run from April 2026. Further hubs are planned across the borough.
