Children's centres
Stifford Family Hub
Address
Belmont Castle Academy,
Parker Road,
Grays,
RM17 5YN
You can visit Brighter Futures Stifford Family Hub when open for activities or phone at the following times:
- Monday to Thursday from 8:30am to 5pm
- Fridays from 8:30am to 4:30pm
Mondays
| Time | Activity | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 8:30am to midday | Housing advice for council tenants | Book in advance by phoning 01375 413 820. |
| 8:30am to 1:30pm | Early interaction advice sessions | For ages 24 months to 60 months. By referral only. |
| 9:30am to 10:30am | Stay and play | No sessions 6, 27 May. For ages 12 months to 24 months. Fun activities for you and your child. The sessions promote social skills and stimulation to support your child's development. The session also shares ideas to support your child's learning at home. All welcome. |
| 10am to midday | Parents 1st – coffee morning | 20 May. Parents 1st is a group of parents who provide support and information on pregnancy, birth and becoming a parent, for families who are due to have a baby – during pregnancy, up to 3 to 6 months – and will become parents for the first time. All welcome to drop-in. |
| 11am to midday | Sensory play | All welcome. 13 May – For ages 0 to 12 months. 20 May – For ages 12 months to 24 months. 27 May – For ages 24 months to 60 months. |
| 11am to midday | Activity sessions | For ages 12 months to 60 months. All welcome. 13 May – Fun with mark-making. 20 May – Messy play. 27 May – Fun with instruments. |
Tuesdays
| Time | Activity | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 9:30am to 10:30am | Let's talk with your baby | For ages 0 to 12 months. A 4-week programme to promote positive adult-child interaction, communication skills, attachment and stimulation in a rich environment through interactive, fun activities. Book in advance. |
| 9:30am to 10:30am | Bookstart toddler | For ages 12 months to 24 months. A session aimed to introduce families and children to love books because words and stories help children understand the world and setting them up for life. Book in advance. |
| 11am to midday | Let's talk with your toddler | For ages 12 months to 24 months. A 4-week programme to support your child's communication and language skills, including advice and strategies you can use in the home. Book in advance. |
| 11am to midday | Baby rhyme time | For ages 0 to 12 months. All welcome. |
| 1:30pm to 2:30pm | Stay and play | For ages 0 to 12 months. Fun activities for you and your baby. The sessions promote social skills and stimulation to support your child's development. The session also shares ideas to support your child's learning at home. All welcome. |
| 1:30pm to 2:30pm | Gardening group | Lots of fun activities in the garden for families with children. Please wear appropriate clothing. All welcome. 7 May – For ages 24 months to 60 months. 14 May – For ages 12 months to 24 months. 21 May – For ages 24 months to 60 months. 28 May – For ages 12 months to 24 months. |
Wednesdays
| Time | Activity | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 9am to midday | Local Area Coordinator (LAC) | Last Wednesday of the month. Local Area Coordinators help people find ways to make a better life. Based in towns and villages around Thurrock, they know the local people – those who need help, and those who can offer different types of help. Book in advance by phoning 07584 345 551. |
| 9:30am to midday | Conversation club for Afghan mums with young children | 15, 22 May. For parents and carers. Book in advance. |
| 11am to midday | Stay and play – just for dads | No sessions 1, 22 May. For ages 24 months to 60 months. Fun activities for dads and their child. The sessions promote social skills and stimulation to support your child's development. The session also shares ideas to support your child's learning at home. All dads welcome. |
| 1:30pm to 2:30pm | Stay and play | No sessions 1, 22 May. For ages 24 months to 60 months. Fun activities for you and your child. The sessions promote social skills and stimulation to support your child's development. The session also shares ideas to support your child's learning at home. All welcome. |
| 3:30pm to 4:30pm | Pyjamarama story event | 15 May. For ages 24 months to 60 months. Wear your pyjamas and bring along your favourite story book. Book in advance. |
| 3:30pm to 4:30pm | Fun with painting | 29 May. For ages 12 months to 60 months. All welcome. |
| 7:30pm to 8:30pm | Parent and carer panel – online | 15 May. By referral only. |
Thursdays
| Time | Activity | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 8:30am to 1:30pm | Early interaction advice session | For ages 24 months to 60 months. By referral only. |
| 9:30am to 10:30am | Pyjamarama story event | 16 May. For ages 24 months to 60 months. Wear your pyjamas and bring along your favourite story book. Book in advance. |
| 9:30am to 11am | Parent outreach service – advice session | 30 May. Parent outreach workers provide high quality support and parental outreach services to families in their own home with a series of home visits. Parent outreach workers will also support parents to access and use services at family hubs and in the community. Book in advance. |
| 10am to 11am | Child minder support group | 9 May. All child minders welcome. |
| 10am to 12:30pm | Job club | Support for families from an employment adviser. For parents and carers. Book in advance by phoning 07776 245 301. |
| 11am to midday | Stay and play – just for dads | No sessions 2, 30 May. For ages 0 to 12 months. Fun activities for dads and their child. The sessions promote social skills and stimulation to support your child's development. The session also shares ideas to support your child's learning at home. All dads welcome. |
| 11am to 1pm | B3 – Birth, Bumps and Belonging | Second Thursday of the month. Peer support community for black and mixed black women who are soon to be parents or with a baby aged up to 2 years. All welcome. |
| 1:30pm to 2:30pm | Parent and carer panel – in person | 2 May. By referral only. |
| 1:30pm to 2:30pm | Stay and play – just for dads | No sessions 2, 30 May. For ages 12 months to 24 months. Fun activities for dads and their child. The sessions promote social skills and stimulation to support your child's development. The session also shares ideas to support your child's learning at home. All dads welcome. |
Fridays
| Time | Activity | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 9:30am to 10:30am | Baby massage | For ages 0 to 12 months. A 4-week course that offers a wonderful opportunity for you to bond and learn how to communicate with your baby through nurturing touch and massage in a relaxed and welcoming environment. Book in advance. |
| 10am to 11:30am | Baby weighing clinic | Drop-in session for ages 0 to 5 years. All welcome. |
| 11am to midday | Let's talk with your toddler | For ages 12 months to 24 months. A 4-week programme to support your child's communication and language skills, including advice and strategies you can use in the home. Book in advance. |
| Midday to 2pm | Antenatal information sessions | 3, 10, 17 May. Book in advance by phoning 07789 753 925 or emailing sarah@parents1st.org.uk |
| 1:30pm to 2:30pm | Chatterbox | For ages 24 months to 60 months. A structured language group providing support, advice and guidance to help your child develop their communications skills. By referral only. |
| 1:30pm to 4:30pm | Early interaction advice sessions | For ages 24 months to 60 months. By referral only. |
Saturdays
| Time | Activity | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 10am to 1:30pm | Dads and partners antenatal group | 4 May. Book in advance by phoning 01268 525 758 or emailing info@parents1st.org.uk |
More activities and support
A wide range of activities are organised at other family hubs across Thurrock. You can find out more about these activities in the document below. Check the timetables of individual family hubs for latest details.
For information on local support services during pregnancy and for families with a baby up to 2 years-old, go to Start for Life.
Registration
You can use the registration form below to register yourself and your child at this family hub, or any of our other family hubs.