Children's centres

Ockendon Family Hub

Address

2a Afton Drive, South Ockendon, RM15 5PA

Contact

01375 413 936

You can phone or visit our Brighter Futures Ockendon Family Hub at the following times:

  • Monday to Thursday from 8:30am to 5pm
  • Fridays from 8:30am to 4:30pm

View timetable as PDF: 

What's on in August 2026 

 

Best Start in Life - 0 to 12 months:

 

Days of the week 

Start

End

Activity

How to join in

Mondays 

10:30am

11:30am

Time for you and baby too   

3, 10, 17 and 24 August

All welcome

11am

Midday

Best Start In Life – 

Baby Rhyme Time   

3, 10 and 24 August   

Book in advance

12:30pm

2:30pm

Big Love (Stay and Play)

Supporting Young Parents 

(14 to 21 years)

All welcome. For more information call 07427578058

Wednesdays

9:15am

10:15am

Baby Massage

5, 12, 19 and 26 August 

Book in advance 

Midday

2pm

B3 – Birth, Bumps and Belonging 

A safe space for parents of Afro Caribbean heritage  

(0-24 months and parents to be) 

19 August

(every 3rd Wed in the month)  

All welcome

Thursdays

1:30pm

2:30pm

Best Start In Life – 

Stay and Play   

13, 20 and 27 August       

All welcome

Fridays

10am

11:30am

Special Event – Teddy Bears Picnic

7 August 

Book in advance

11am

Midday

Best Start In Life – Sensory Play 

14, 21 and 28 August 

Book in advance

1:30pm

2:30pm

Best Start in Life - Just for Dads 

14 August 

All dads welcome

 

Best Start in Life – 12 to 24 months: 

 

Mondays

10:30am

11:30am

Time for you and baby too 

3, 10, 17 and 24 August   

All welcome

9am

10am

Let’s talk with your Toddler   

3, 10, 17 and 24 August   

Book in advance

Tuesdays

9:15am

10:15am

Best Start In Life – 

Printing and Painting   

4 and 18 August  

All welcome 

11am

Midday

Best Start In Life – 

Messy Play   

4 and 18 August  

All welcome

1:30pm

2:30pm

Outside Play 

4 and 18 August  

All welcome 

Wednesdays

10:45am

11:45am

Pebble Painting 

5 and 12 August  

All welcome

Midday

2pm

B3 – Birth, Bumps and Belonging 

A safe space for parents of Afro Caribbean heritage  

(0-24 months and parents to be) 

19 August

(every 3rd Wed in the month)  

All welcome

Thursdays

9:15am

10:15am

Best Start In Life – 

Stay and Play   

13, 20 and 27 August         

All welcome

10am

11:30am

Special Event – Mini Olympics

6 August  

Book in advance

1pm

2:30pm

Special Event – Mini Olympics

6 August  

Book in advance

Fridays

10am

11:30am

Special Event – Teddy Bears Picnic

7 August

Book in advance

1:30pm

2:30pm

Best Start in Life - Just for Dads 

14 August 

All dads welcome

1:30pm

2:30pm

Best Start in Life - Garden Group 

7, 21 and 28 August   

All welcome

 

Services and activities for parents and children aged 2-19 years 

24 to 60 months: 

 

Mondays

1:30pm

2:30pm

Summer Crafts   

3, 10, 17 and 24 August   

Book in advance 

Tuesdays 

11am

Midday

Messy Play   

4 and 18 August  

All welcome

1:30pm

2:30pm

Outside Play 

4 and 18 August  

All welcome 

Wednesday

10:45am

11:45am

Ready, Steady, School

(For children starting reception classes in September)

19 and 26 August 

All welcome

1:30pm

2:30pm

Garden Group

5 and 12 August 

All welcome 

Thursdays 

10am

11:30am

Special Event – Mini Olympics

6 August  

Book in advance

11am

Midday

Stay and Play   

13, 20 and 27 August   

All welcome

1pm

2:30pm

Special Event – Mini Olympics

6 August  

Book in advance

Fridays

9:30am

10:30am

Fun with Small World 

14, 21 and 28 August 

All welcome

10am

11:30am

Special Event – Teddy Bears Picnic

7 August 

Book in advance

1:30pm

2:30pm

Just for Dads 

14 August 

All dads welcome

1:30pm

2:30pm

Garden Group 

7, 21 and 28 August   

All welcome

 

General Family Hub Support Services:

 

Mondays 

9am

4pm

Parent Outreach Advice Session

17 August 

Book in advance

10am

Midday

Citizens Advice Bureau

3 August 

Drop In

Tuesdays

9am 

3pm

Brook Sexual Health Clinic

Prebooked appointments only from our website: www.brook.org.uk/thurrock or call 01375 800260

10am

11am

Behaviour Workshop

18 August   

Referral only 

10:30am

Midday

Thurrock Virtual School:  Information, advice and guidance on education matters and supporting children in education (Parents of 2 to 18 year olds)

25 August 

Drop In 

Wednesdays

9am

5pm

Midwife appointments 

Book in advance

9am

Midday

Infant Feeding Advice and Support

Book in advance

0300 300 1999

9:30am

4pm

1- and 2-year development checks

Book in advance 

0300 300 1999

1pm

3.30pm

Speech and Language Clinic (4th Wednesday in every month)  26 August 

Appointments only by email:

Drop-in@nelft.nhs.uk 

1pm

3pm

DWP Family Community Work Coach

Appointments only

Thursdays

9am

5pm

Midwife appointments 

Book in advance

9am

11:15am

Antenatal Blood Tests

Book in advance with your midwife

9am

4pm

Parent Outreach Advice Session

20 August 

Book in advance

1pm

5pm

Newborn Screening

Book with your midwife

Fridays



 

 

9am

4pm

Midwife appointments 

Book in advance

10am 

3pm

Substance Misuse Drop in service 18+ years 

Drop in with Lorraine

07485359896

 

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.