Families with young children are invited to attend a series of free storytelling and nursery rhyme events next month, which are being organised by the five Dudley family hubs.

Dudley Council is running sessions as part of the family hub network’s Sing Talk and Read Together (STaRT) campaign, highlighting the value of home learning from conception throughout the early years.

The local family hub activities will take place from 10am to noon at Coseley on Monday 13 May, Dudley Central on Tuesday 14 May, Brierley Hill on Wednesday 15 May and Stourbridge on Friday 17 May. There will also be an outreach session at Halesowen Town Hall on Thursday 16 May, on behalf of the local family hub in Lye.

As well as stories and nursery songs, there will be the chance for young children to play and explore with their peers, and people can find out full details at dudley.gov.uk/start. Catherine Driscoll, director of children’s services at Dudley Council, said:

“Dudley is a Child Friendly borough, and as part of our fantastic initiative, we are pleased to be holding these STaRT events in our local family hubs.

“There will be a range of free activities designed to encourage families with young children to enjoy reading, singing and telling stories together.

“I would also like to offer a huge thanks to Dudley Building Society for donating financial education books, which will be interesting and beneficial to our many hub users.”

Free books for young children are kindly being provided by the National Literacy Trust across the week in all Family Hubs. Representatives from the trust will be on site at the Coseley event on Monday and Brierley Hill event on Wednesday, to talk to families about their resources.

The family hubs provide expectant parents and families with children up to the age of 18, or 25 with additional needs and/or physical or learning disabilities, with advice, practical support and information.

They offer help to ensure babies, children and young people get the best start for life and meet their full potential and that parents and carers receive any help they need to raise their families.

The hubs also give families the chance to meet one another and provide a broad range of services including midwives, health visiting, parenting and baby groups, baby clinics, citizens advice, pre-natal support, signposting to services and groups and family support. More information is available online. 

Families of children from conception to age two can access guidance and support on a range of topics through Start for Life, which is delivered as part of Dudley’s Family Hub Network.

For more information people can visit dudley.gov.uk/start.