The latest news
Book Now: Working Together in Early Help Events
You’re invited to join our Families First, Working Together in Early Help Events
Join us this Autumn at our Working Together in Early Help learning events. These events are a great workforce development opportunity as well as a chance to network with other Families First partners.
The events are in person across the county and will be focused on school attendance and how the national social care reforms (also known as the Families First Partnership Programme) are being implemented in Hertfordshire with presentations from:-
Events are taking place across the county on the following dates:-
Wednesday 4 November 26, 9:30-12:30, South Hill Centre, Hemel Hempstead
Tuesday 17 November 26, 9:30-12:30, Broxbourne Borough Council, Cheshunt
Friday 20 November, 26, 9:30-12:30. Icknield Centre, Letchworth
Wednesday 25 November 26, 9:30-12:30, Three Rivers District Council, Rickmansworth
Book your place here: Families First - Working together in Early Help - Autumn 2026
Professionals network to improve outcomes for children, young people and families
It was inspiring to see more than 120 partners come together at this year's Children, Young People and Families Partnership Day in Hertfordshire.
The day provided an opportunity to network, share learning and explore new services and initiatives designed to support children, young people and families. Key themes throughout the event included:
- The importance of prevention and early intervention
- Listening to the voices and experiences of children, young people and families
- Building resilience within our communities
- The value of strong, effective partnerships
From updates on support for young carers, new families and those facing financial challenges, to discussions around children's social care reform and safeguarding, the event reinforced the impact we can have when organisations work together around a shared purpose.
Thank you to everyone who attended, presented and contributed to such an important day. By continuing to collaborate, listen and act early, we can make a real difference for children, young people and families across Hertfordshire.
Would you like to make a difference in a young parent’s life?
Ohana offers young parents who are care experienced the opportunity to build new, positive relationships. We are recruiting volunteers who are caring, flexible, positive, and friendly. Could you provide real support that makes a difference to a young parent’s life? Do you have time to share and can make a commitment?
If you are interested in being an Ohana Champion, please see the advertisement below and complete an Expression of Interest 😊
The deadline for applications is the 1st of November.
The Children and Young people's Podcast has arrived!
Participation Team - Children and Young people Podcast
A brand-new podcast from the Participation Team is now live and features young people sharing their lived experiences and perspectives on labelling, stigma, and stereotypes. The podcast offers valuable insights from young people, encouraging reflection and greater understanding of the impact of labels and assumptions. Listen and share with colleagues and networks now.
View and share the first podcast hosted by Young Carers (ClubYC) below:-
Participation Team YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ParticipationTeam
www.hertfordshire.gov.uk/participationteam
Fifty Thrifty Half Term activities
HCC have put together another list of fifty cost-effective activities for families this October half-term
We’ve updated our list of fifty ‘no cost’ or ‘low cost’ activities to do in Hertfordshire for autumn, providing a whole world of wonder for you and your family. We understand that we all need to make the most of every penny at the moment and, if you’re finding times particularly tough financially, there is support on hand on our Help to manage the cost of living webpage.
Find out more here:- Fifty Thrifty October Halfterm 2026
Hertfordshire Young People’s Health and Wellbeing Survey 2026
The Hertfordshire Young People’s Health and Wellbeing Survey 2026 will be open from Monday 9 November to Friday 18 December 2026. The survey gives young people the opportunity to share their views on a range of health and wellbeing topics, helping schools, services and commissioners better understand and respond to their needs.
In 2024, more than 14,500 Hertfordshire young people took part. Schools reported that the findings were valuable for demonstrating impact to Ofsted, monitoring pupil wellbeing and informing support for young people.
The survey covers a range of topics, including:
- Mental health and wellbeing
- Drugs and alcohol
- Healthy eating and physical activity
- Relationships
- Safety and bullying
The survey is anonymous and takes approximately 20 minutes to complete on a computer, tablet or mobile phone. Young people attending school can select their school from a dropdown list, and those not currently in education can also participate.
Once the survey closes, the Health Intelligence team will analyse the results to help inform future services and support for young people across Hertfordshire.
🔗 Access the survey from 9 November 2026 at 9am: www.hertshealthevidence.org/yphws
The Mainstream Young People's Health and Wellbeing Survey will both be open from 9 November 2026 and close on Friday 18 December at midnight. For any queries about either survey, please contact yphws@hertfordshire.gov.uk.
Become a Hertfordshire Contraception Champion!
Contraception Champions play a vital role in promoting healthy relationships, supporting conversations about contraception and sexual health, sharing prevention messages, and signposting Hertfordshire residents to appropriate local services. The scheme is open to practitioners working across Health, Education, Children's Services, Adult Social Care, Drugs and Alcohol Services, and other frontline roles.
The scheme does not require you to provide clinical advice. It is about helping people access the right information and services when they need them, within the role you are in.
As a Contraception Champion, you'll:
Champions receive guidance, resources, training opportunities and regular updates to help them feel confident having these important conversations.
Interested? Sign up here:
Home-Start Watford, Three Rivers & Hertsmere Remains Strong, Stable and Fully Operational
Following the recent sad announcement regarding the imminent closure of Home-Start Hertfordshire, we would like to reassure our partners, referrers and the families we support that
Home-Start Watford, Three Rivers & Hertsmere remains financially secure, well-resourced and fully operational.
Home-Start charities operate independently, with each organisation responsible for its own governance, funding and service delivery.
Home-Start Hertfordshire has served families across Broxbourne, Dacorum, East Hertfordshire, North Hertfordshire (excluding Royston), Stevenage, St Albans and Welwyn Hatfield.
We would also like to reassure partners that Home-Start Royston, Buntingford & South Cambridgeshire continues to operate as usual and remains available to support families within its area. Further information can be found on their website:
https://www.hsrsc.org.uk/.
As a local, independent charity, we have worked hard to build a strong and sustainable organisation. Thanks to the continued support of our funders, volunteers, staff, trustees and partners, we are in a positive position and remain focused on meeting the needs of families across our communities.
We would be grateful if you could share this update within your teams and networks and continue referring families who may benefit from our support.
Thank you for your continued partnership and support. We remain here, ready and able to support families across Watford, Three Rivers and Hertsmere.
News from the Family Centre Service
We are pleased to share the news that One YMCA has changed its name to 'YMCA Chiltern Group'. ✨
💜 Why is One YMCA getting a new name?
Over the past 140 years, the charity has grown from the first YMCA meeting in Watford to becoming one of the largest YMCA groups in England and Wales, serving communities across Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire. As One YMCA celebrates this important anniversary and reflects on the positive impact it has made, they also wanted to look ahead to the future. So, the new name ‘YMCA Chiltern Group’ aims to unite all services under a new collective name and reflects ambitions going forward.
💜 Why did they choose 'YMCA Chiltern Group'?
This new name helps connect the group to the regions it serves, be more recognisable to local communities and is meaningful to the vision and purpose. The name is inspired by the Chiltern Hills, which many of you will know is the beautiful range of hills that stretches across Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire and Oxfordshire.
Just like the counties connected by the Chilterns, YMCA Chiltern Group is a mix of regional services connected by a common thread: supporting local young people and families to belong, contribute and thrive. 👏
To read more about One YMCA's name change, please visit: https://oneymca.org/one-ymca-becomes-ymca-chiltern-group/
Hertfordshire SEND Directory
Are you looking for local activities and SEND services for a child or young person with SEND?
The SEND community activities directory promotes a wide range of local activities and support groups. Some activities will also include discounts for families registered with a Herts Card (SEND).
We will be adding additional activities on a regular basis.
View the Autumn Programme of Parenting Groups
The Hertfordshire Parenting and Relationship Support Offer Newsletter is a comprehensive guide to free parenting, SEND, autism/ADHD, and family relationship support services available to Hertfordshire families in Autumn 2026.
It lists courses, workshops, webinars and support groups provided by a range of organisations, along with dates, venues (mostly online), and booking details.
Please take time to read and share where applicable
Information Sharing Duty new statutory guidance
Information Sharing Duty Information Sharing Duty Sept 2026: The government has published new statutory guidance on sharing information to safeguard children and young people.
The guidance, published on 10 September 2026, explains the new information sharing duty introduced through section 16LA of the Children Act 2004. The duty comes into force on 30 September 2026 and applies to a range of safeguarding organisations, including education and early years agencies, local authorities, health services, the police and other specified organisations.
It replaces the previous non-statutory Information sharing: advice for practitioners providing safeguarding services.
What is changing?
The new duty is intended to remove uncertainty about whether information can be shared, particularly where concerns relate to emerging needs, early help or a child’s wider welfare rather than an immediate risk of significant harm.
There is no requirement for a child to have reached a particular statutory threshold before relevant information can be shared.
From 30 September 2026, an organisation covered by the duty must share information with another organisation covered by the duty where:
- it holds information about a child, or another person connected to that child;
- it considers the information relevant to safeguarding or promoting the child’s welfare; and
- it considers that sharing the information may help the recipient assess need or risk, make a decision, provide support or take safeguarding action.
The duty applies both when an organisation identifies relevant information itself and when it receives a request for relevant information from another organisation covered by the legislation.