Working with the Voluntary, Community, Faith and Social Enterprise (VCFSE) Sector in Family Hubs

This section brings together practical guidance, tools and case studies to support effective partnership working with the VCFSE sector. It also includes links to pre‑recorded webinars that share learning, examples of good practice and insights from areas already embedding VCFSE partnerships within family hubs.

Strong relationships between councils and the local Voluntary and Community Sector (VCS) are the bedrock of successful places. This toolkit aims to support councils on this journey. It builds upon research commissioned by the Local Government Association and conducted by Locality, into the state of strategic relationships between councils and their local voluntary and community sector.

This section sets out the evidence and context for working with the VCFSE sector within family hubs. It highlights the importance of these partnerships in strengthening early help, improving outcomes, and reaching families who are seldom served.

Bristol City Council is keen for there to be ‘no wrong front door’ for families seeking to access support and provision. To increase accessibility to Family Hubs and the breadth of support available, their Family Hub Programme has sought to partner with the local VCFSE sector, who are already supporting families in the city through sustainable, trusted relationships and grassroots projects.

Accessible outdoor programmes run in partnership with voluntary, community, faith and social enterprises can build confidence, strengthen families, enhance early childhood development, and foster a fairer, greener future where people and nature thrive together

Who Let The Dads Out? is a national network of community groups that give fathers and father figures regular, welcoming spaces to spend quality time with their children. Launched in 2003 at Hoole Baptist Church in Chester, the model has grown to over 175 groups across the UK.

Who Let The Dads Out? is a national network of community groups that give fathers and father figures regular, welcoming spaces to spend quality time with their children. Launched in 2003 at Hoole Baptist Church in Chester, the model has grown to over 175 groups across the UK.

Since June 2018, Leicestershire County Council has developed a network of five community fridges located in family hubs across Coalville, South Wigston, Hinckley, Loughborough and Lutterworth. The initiative aims to reduce food waste by redistributing edible surplus food while offering practical support to families and vulnerable adults.

The Old Kent Road Family Zone (OKRFZ) is a groundbreaking community-led initiative transforming how local government addresses health inequalities in one of London's most under resourced areas. Facilitated by Surrey Square Primary School (part of the Big Education Trust) and funded by Impact on Urban Health, the zone operates on a radical principle: working 'with' communities rather than 'for' or 'to' them. By placing children, families and residents at the heart of decision-making, OKRFZ is creating sustainable, systemic change that tackles the root causes of poor health and wellbeing.