Thorney Close Best Start Family Hub

Family Hub Registration Form

Thorney Close is our Best Start Family Hub for the west of Sunderland, based on Thorndale Road withing Thorney Close Action and Enterprise Centre. It’s a welcoming, easy‑to‑reach place where families can get support, connect with local services, and join in free, friendly activities from pregnancy right through to age 19 (or up to 25 for young people with SEND).

There’s always something fun to get involved in. Check our latest timetable for the latest activities, events, courses and support services. 

Thorney Close Timetable

Thorney Close May Half Term Timetable

Easy to find and fully accessible

Thorney Close Family Hub is close to major bus routes and offers free parking. The hub is fully accessible and on the ground floor, and the main entrance has widened automatic doors, making it easy for prams, wheelchairs and mobility aids to get in and out safely. We also have a welcoming reception area where our lovely team will help get you to the right place.

Disabled parking spaces are available at the rear of the building and inside you’ll find an accessible toilet with a baby‑changing unit located near the entrance, along with additional toilets throughout the hub for your convenience.

Free activities, guidance, practical support and specialist health services

At Thorney Close Best Start Family Hub, we’re here to support you through pregnancy, birth and your child’s early years. Our Healthy Babies programme offers free guidance throughout pregnancy and during your baby’s first two years, giving you reassurance and confidence when you need it most.

Families can enjoy a wide range of free sessions and activities. These include fun, interactive play sessions and baby groups that encourage bonding and learning through music, stories, messy play and other hands‑on experiences. We also offer a variety of health-focused sessions, such as antenatal classes, Growing Healthy support, and breastfeeding and infant‑feeding guidance. Indoor and enclosed outdoor free‑play opportunities are available, along with parenting courses, one‑off workshops and dedicated sessions for young parents.

Our hub also provides tailored support for families with children who have SEND. This includes SEND‑friendly sessions, drop‑ins with SENDIASS and access to a bookable sensory room designed to create a calm and stimulating environment.

Thorney Close is also home to specialist health sessions delivered by our NHS partners, available by appointment. These include hearing checks, speech and language support, specialist feeding guidance and social prescribing services

Find out more about Thorney Close Best Start Family Hub

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Want to see what it’s like? Come along and enjoy the space — indoors and outdoors — and meet the friendly team who make Thorney Close such a supportive place for families.