Oldham Best Start Family Hubs

17/06/2026

Happy Learning Disability Week! This post lists different organisations throughout Oldham offering support to people with a learning disability 👇

This week is Learning Disability Week, which raises awareness of what life is like for people who have a learning disability. This year's theme, "Do you see me?", highlights how important it is for people with a learning disability to feel seen, heard, and valued 💜

There are a range of organisations in Oldham offering support for people with a learning disability:

• The Terence O'Grady Social Club provides social and leisure activities for those over the age of 16 with a learning disability. They meet on Tuesday evenings, 7–9pm, at St Anne's Rugby Club on Higginshaw Road (OL1 3JY).
• Through its network of Shared Lives Carers, the Shared Lives Oldham scheme supports and enables people to live a happy and fulfilling family life in the town they know and love.
• POINT Activities supports children and young people with additional needs and disabilities and their families. Through the Oldham Parent Carer Forum, POINT empowers families' voices to improve services and outcomes.
• OPAL Advocacy works with people with a learning disability and autistic people to make sure they have a voice in shaping services, as well as offering a range of social activities.
• The FAB Family Centre supports families with the everyday challenges of autism, ADHD, dyslexia, and other developmental differences. As well as local families, the team connect with both local and migrant families from Eastern Europe and beyond.
• Pennine Mencap is a charity providing opportunities for adults with learning disabilities in Oldham and Tameside. The team have organised a range of exciting events for Learning Disability Week: check out their page to learn more!
• The Place To Bee is a family-run day centre offering support to adults with learning disabilities and autism from Fitton Hill Bulldogs Community & Sports Centre.
• Power of Autism is a group of local parents running monthly Social Skills Games & Activities sessions, designed to help children with autism build confidence and develop their communication and friendships in a safe and welcoming environment.
• Oldham Best Start Family Hubs are always here for families: the team can either help you in our Best Start Family Hubs or signpost you to further support.
• The Oldham SEND Local Offer outlines the support available in the local area for children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities, including those without an Education, Health and Care plan.

If you need support, you can submit an online referral at the link in the comments or call the Learning Disability and Autism Team on 0161 770 7777 📱

14/06/2026

Togetherness NHS has a variety of learning pathways that have helped thousands of new parents understand and communicate with their new babies. The learning pathways are:

👣 Accessibly written, so you can take your learning step by step
⭐ Highly rated by other parents (more than 90% would recommend)
💕 Proven to improve child behaviour, reduce parent anxiety, and strengthen relationships
💻 Available anytime, anywhere: online and totally private

And, if you’re an Oldham resident, you can use the code DAISY to gain access to the pathways for free 🤩

Start your learning journey today at the link in the comments 🌼

13/06/2026

Happy Pride Month! 🌈

Every family deserves to feel seen, supported, and celebrated. That's why we work with Proud 2 b Parents, an inclusive charity led by and for LGBT+ parents, carers, and their children, building community, reducing isolation, and championing every kind of family.

From local meet-ups and peer support to big events like Proud Fest and LGBT+ Parents & Carers Day, everything they do is about connection, visibility, and belonging because no one should have to navigate parenthood feeling unseen.

To get involved, come to an event or simply follow along and be part of the story. Your family belongs here 💛

12/06/2026

This week has been Infant Mental Health Awareness Week, and this year's theme is "attunement": tuning into your baby so they feel safe and understood 🎶
​
Our Parent Infant Mental Health Services, Pennine Care NHS (PIMHS) team have shared some ways you can attune to your baby:​
🩵 A – Attention: noticing your child
🩵 T – Tuning in: wondering about feelings beneath behaviour
🩵 T – Time: slowing down
🩵 U – Understanding: helping children make sense of feelings
🩵 N – Needs: responding to what’s needed in the moment
🩵 E – Enough: remembering that repair matters more than perfection
​
The PIMHS team is formed of clinical psychologists, specialist parent-infant health visitors, child psychotherapists, therapeutic social workers and a speech and language therapist who have expertise in supporting parent-infant relationships. They work in the community and see families in Best Start Family Hubs and in their homes across Oldham.
​
If you think the PIMHS team could help you, speak to your midwife, health visitor, GP or social worker. To learn more, visit their website at the link in the comments 💞

12/06/2026

Want to share your opinion about our Best Start Family Hubs? Here's your chance! 📣

The University of Salford are inviting families to take part in focus groups to share their experiences of our services. Your views will help us understand what has worked well in our Best Start Family Hubs, what could be improved, and how services support families in real life.

The focus group will be a friendly group discussion for 60 to 90 minutes. An interpreter and other support can be provided if you need it. Taking part is voluntary and confidential, and several focus groups will be held in different locations. And, you’ll get a £5 voucher to thank you for taking part! 😊

If you are interested in taking part in this focus group, please go to the link in the comments and fill in the form — the team from the University of Salford will contact you.

To learn more about the project, please speak to a member of the Best Start Family Hubs service or email Dr Abdelrahman Alfar: [email protected]

Thanks for your help! 🥰

11/06/2026

As National Smile Month comes to an end, we wanted to share five top tips for good oral health that you can use all year round.

🪥 Show your child how to brush their teeth for two minutes, twice a day, with a fluoride toothpaste.
🍏 Cut sugary foods and drinks from your daily diets.
👄 Adults can use a mouthwash daily.
🦷 Remember to clean between your teeth.
👋 Visit a dentist regularly.

For more oral health advice, visit the link in the comments 🔗

10/06/2026

The Children's Toothbrushing Guide, developed by the experts behind the Starting Reception definition, is full of tips to help you ensure your child's good oral health. There is advice to help you with your child's toothbrushing and diet, as well as specific guidance for families of children with SEND 😁

Download the guide at the link in the comments 🪥

09/06/2026

Looking after your baby’s smile starts earlier than you might think 😁
​
From teething to brushing tiny teeth, Anya offers trusted guidance and support to help you care for your baby’s oral health with confidence 💬
​
Download Anya for free at the link in the comments and ask your parenting questions any time. If you enter your Oldham postcode when you sign up, you'll be able to access additional premium features free of charge 🤩

08/06/2026

If you’re eligible for NHS Healthy Start, you can get free Healthy Start vitamins to help you stay healthy during pregnancy and beyond.

You can also get free children’s vitamins drops for babies and children up to four years old to keep them strong and healthy👶

Just ask your midwife or Health Visitor, or go to your local Best Start Family Hub and show a member of the team your Healthy Start card ♥

08/06/2026

Dates for your diary ✍️

Do you care for a child or young person (aged 0–25) with additional needs or disabilities?

Oldham Parent Carer Forum, supported by POINT Activities, is holding more free SEND drop-in sessions across Oldham in June. If you have any questions, or you'd just like to meet the team, come along for a brew and a chat 🥰

Let them know you're coming by clicking the links in the comments section 🔗