New Kingsbridge Community Hub opened to support local families

Kingsbridge Primary School opens doors to Action for Children, The Fidget Project and MotherBorn Collective. 

Kingsbridge Primary School is proud to announce the launch of the Kingsbridge Community Hub, a new initiative designed to provide vital space and support for local charities and community groups serving families and children in the area.

Baby Massage session run by Action for Children at the Community Hub, supported by Steph Pope - Motherborn Collective CIC

Located in the building that once housed the Sure-Start Children's Centre, the hub will offer facilities to charities like Action for Children, The MotherBorn Collective CIC and The Fidget Project, with more community partnerships expected in the coming months.

The MotherBorn Collective CIC empowers families through compassionate support throughout pregnancy and the early years of parenthood, and The Fidget Project aims to offer practical interventions from a sensory specialist to children.

While Kingsbridge is relatively isolated with limited access to services, the school is determined to bridge that gap by providing a safe and welcoming space for organisations dedicated to helping the local community.

The project aims to make a positive impact on the Kingsbridge community by allowing organisations to deliver outreach work and support services in an area with few local resources. This initiative aligns with Education South West’s mission to contribute to support all children, from the early years onwards, and ensure they have the very best start in life.

The Hub is already hosting community groups and the school will continue to work to further enhance the space for community use. Action for Children has begun running baby massage sessions at the centre with lots of parents and little ones turning up for the inaugural session.

The Fidget Project is launching a pilot initiative to support children with sensory processing differences (SPD) at the Hub. The project aims to provide essential support for children whose behaviours may be linked to unrecognised SPD, helping them self-regulate, engage in learning, and improve overall wellbeing.

This will include parent and guardian support groups, SPD awareness-raising sessions, and practical demonstrations by an occupational therapist using project equipment and activities.

The Mother Born Collective CIC will be offering a comprehensive range of services designed to support families during pregnancy and the exciting, yet challenging, early stages of parenthood.  They will be providing both drop-in and appointment based 1:1 support with breastfeeding, bottlefeeding and babywearing, along with low cost breast pump and TENS machine hire. They will also host various mum/dad and baby groups, some of which collaborate with local experts to offer families the support they need to thrive. 

Gareth Howells, headteacher at Kingsbridge Primary School, said: "We’re excited to offer this space to groups, organisations and charities which play such a vital role in the lives of families here. I am excited that the Hub is now open and look forward to forging more partnerships going forward. By working together, we can help ensure that families in our area have access to the resources they need to thrive.”

Matthew Shanks, CEO of Education South West said: "We believe in the power of collaboration to make a difference and the Kingsbridge Community Hub is a wonderful example of how schools can work alongside local organisations to improve the wellbeing of families and children.

"We are so proud to be able to play a part in bringing a space like this back to the town for the benefit of young families."