Facilities in and around Elstow Lodge Family Centre

At Elstow Lodge Family Centre, we provide a safe, welcoming and supportive environment where parents and their children can feel comfortable throughout their stay. Our facilities are designed to support family life, promote positive parent-child relationships and provide opportunities for parents to develop confidence and practical parenting skills.

Accommodation

Each parent is provided with a private bedroom, including a bed and cot. Wherever appropriate and in line with safe sleeping guidance, babies remain in the same room as their parent to support bonding and responsive care.

Milk Kitchen and Feeding Facilities

Dedicated facilities are available to support infant feeding, including areas for preparing breast and bottle feeds, sterilising equipment and the safe storage of milk and food.

Bathrooms and Infant Bathing Facilities

The centre provides bathroom facilities, including accessible facilities and designated areas suitable for bathing and caring for infants.

Laundry Facilities

On-site laundry facilities are available for parents to wash and dry their own clothing and their child’s clothing, bedding and other essential items.

Communal and Shared Areas

Parents have access to a range of shared spaces designed to encourage family interaction, independence and positive social engagement. These include:

• Comfortable communal lounges
• Dining areas
• Kitchen facilities
• Dedicated play areas
• Laundry facilities
• Visitor areas
• Spaces for family and professional meetings

Outdoor and Garden Areas

Our outdoor spaces provide safe and welcoming areas for parents and children to spend time together. Gardens and courtyards include opportunities for safe play, fresh air, relaxation and positive parent-child interaction.

Sensory and Quiet Rooms

Dedicated sensory and quiet spaces provide calm environments where parents can focus on bonding and interacting with their babies. These areas can support sensory development, relaxation and positive parent-child experiences.

Therapeutic and Developmental Activities

A range of activities may be available to support parenting, child development and emotional wellbeing. These can include:

• Baby massage
• Parent and baby play
• Story time and early literacy activities
• Weaning and feeding support
• Sensory play
• Arts and crafts
• Mindfulness activities
• Therapeutic sessions

Multidisciplinary Staff Team

Parents are supported by an experienced multidisciplinary team with expertise across childcare, parenting, health and family support. Depending on individual needs, this may include:

• Midwives
• Health visitors
• Nursery nurses
• Occupational therapists
• Psychologists
• Family support practitioners
• Peer support workers
• Other relevant professionals

Professional and Family Meeting Spaces

Private meeting rooms are available to facilitate confidential discussions, professional meetings, assessments and family consultations in an appropriate and secure environment.

Safety, Security and Privacy

The centre provides a secure environment designed to safeguard the wellbeing, privacy and dignity of parents and children. Appropriate measures are in place to promote safety while maintaining a warm and supportive atmosphere.

Story Time and Reading Areas

Comfortable reading areas provide opportunities for parents to enjoy books and storytelling with their children. These spaces encourage bonding, communication, early literacy and positive parent-child interaction.

Our location in Elstow, Bedfordshire provides access to a wide range of local services, facilities and amenities within the surrounding areas of Bedford and Kempston. The area offers a supportive environment for mothers and babies, with access to family services, health and wellbeing support, green spaces, leisure facilities, shopping and community activities.

Family Support Services

Families living in the area can access Bedford Borough Family Hubs – Best Start Bedford, which provide information, advice and activities for parents and carers of young children.

Family Hubs offer a range of services including:

• Baby and toddler activities
• Play, learning and development sessions
• Baby massage
• Breastfeeding support
• Parenting advice and workshops
• Family support
• Emotional wellbeing support
• Feeding and child-development guidance
• Activities for children aged 0–5

The Family Hub network includes Daisy Hill Family Hub in Kempston, as well as a number of centres across Bedford. Many activities are free or low cost, with a mixture of drop-in and bookable sessions. (Bedford Borough Council)

The Bedford Borough Family Information Service also provides free and impartial information about childcare and services available to families and carers. (Bedford Borough Council)

Health and Child Development

Parents have access to local health and child-development services, including health visiting and early-years support.

Local children’s centres and Family Hubs provide opportunities to access parenting support, baby-feeding advice, family learning and activities designed to promote children’s health, development and wellbeing. (Bedfordshire Luton Children’s Health)

The Child Development Centre in Kempston provides a local specialist child-health facility.

Baby and Parent Activities

There are a variety of opportunities for mothers to socialise, develop confidence and take part in activities with their babies.

Local options include:

• Baby and toddler groups
• Baby massage
• Baby-feeding support
• Parent and baby activities
• Early-years learning sessions
• Family swimming
• Parent-focused fitness activities
• Library activities for young children

There are also local organisations offering activities specifically for parents and babies, including Mummy & Me in Kempston, where mothers can take part in fitness activities while their babies remain with them during the session. (nhs.uk)

Parks and Green Spaces

The surrounding area provides a number of parks and open spaces suitable for walks, outdoor activities and spending time with babies and young children.

Elstow Playing Field provides a local green space within Elstow.

In Kempston, Addison Howard Park offers a range of facilities including a children’s play area, toilets, outdoor fitness equipment and open recreational space. (Bedford Borough Council)

Bedford also has a number of larger parks and green spaces. Bedford Park includes play areas, a café, toilets, a lake and other recreational facilities. (Bedford Borough Council)

Priory Country Park provides a further opportunity for families to enjoy outdoor walks, nature and open space. (Bedford Borough Council)

Swimming and Leisure

There are several leisure facilities within Bedford and Kempston offering swimming, fitness and other activities.

Kempston Pool and Fitness provides swimming and fitness facilities and offers a range of activities suitable for different ages and abilities. (Bedford Borough Council)

Robinson Pools and Fitness in Bedford provides additional swimming and leisure opportunities.

Local leisure facilities can provide opportunities for parents to improve their physical wellbeing, participate in exercise and enjoy activities with their children.

Libraries and Learning

Bedford Borough’s libraries provide free access to books, information and community activities. Libraries regularly offer activities for children and families, with many activities available without advance booking. (Bedford Borough Council)

Bedford Central Library provides access to a wide range of resources and is located in Bedford town centre.

Libraries can provide a useful, low-cost way for parents and children to develop early literacy skills, enjoy books together and become involved in local activities.

Community Facilities

There are a number of community venues across Bedford and Kempston where residents can access activities, groups and support.

For example, Southfields Community Centre in Kempston hosts community groups and includes a childcare centre. The centre also has parking and accessible facilities, with a local bus service stopping nearby. (Bedford Borough Council)

Bedford Borough also operates a Welcoming Spaces network, providing welcoming community locations where people can access refreshments, activities and facilities such as toilets and baby-changing facilities. (Bedford Borough Council)

Shopping and Everyday Essentials

The wider Elstow, Bedford and Kempston area provides convenient access to supermarkets, pharmacies, cafés, shops and other everyday services.

This includes supermarkets and retail facilities around the Elstow Interchange and Bedford area, together with additional shopping facilities in Bedford town centre and Kempston.

Access to everyday shopping facilities supports parents in managing household needs, purchasing food and baby essentials and developing independent living skills.

Transport Links

Elstow benefits from its location close to Bedford town centre and Kempston, with road and public transport connections providing access to local services and amenities.

The Elstow Park & Ride is located at Progress Park on the A6 and provides bus services into Bedford town centre. The service travels along Ampthill Road, with stops including the hospital, Borough Hall, Bedford College and Bedford town centre. Bedford Bus Station is also within walking distance of Bedford railway station. (Bedford Borough Council)

Local bus services also connect areas of Kempston and Bedford with community facilities and amenities. For example, the Stagecoach number 2 service stops close to Southfields Community Centre in Kempston. (Bedford Borough Council)

Practical Support for Mothers and Babies

The local area also provides access to organisations that can support families experiencing financial or practical difficulties.

FACES Baby Bank can provide essential items for babies and young children, including nappies, formula, toiletries, clothing, toys, feeding equipment, bedding, cots, Moses baskets and pushchairs, where families meet the relevant referral requirements. Referrals can be made through professionals including children’s centres, health visitors, midwives, social services and schools/nurseries. (FACES)

Supporting Independence and Community Integration

The range of facilities available across Elstow, Bedford and Kempston provides opportunities for mothers to:

• Access appropriate family and parenting support
• Attend baby and toddler activities
• Develop positive social networks
• Access health and wellbeing services
• Enjoy parks and outdoor spaces
• Use local leisure facilities
• Access libraries and educational resources
• Shop for everyday essentials
• Develop confidence using public transport
• Build independence within the local community
• Access practical support when required

The combination of family services, community facilities, green spaces, leisure opportunities, shopping and transport links provides a strong range of resources to support mothers and babies while encouraging confidence, independence and positive engagement within the local community.

At Elstow Lodge Family Centre, our experienced and compassionate team is committed to creating a safe, supportive and nurturing environment in which parents and children can develop and thrive together.

Our multidisciplinary team brings together a broad range of knowledge and experience across childcare, parenting, social care, health, mental health and family support.

Our staff are committed to:

• Providing respectful, non-judgemental and strengths-based support
• Promoting the safety, welfare and wellbeing of children
• Supporting parents to develop positive and responsive parenting skills
• Identifying individual strengths, needs and areas for development
• Providing guidance tailored to each family’s circumstances
• Encouraging parents to develop confidence and independence
• Supporting positive parent-child relationships
• Working collaboratively with parents and professionals

We work in partnership with parents, social workers, health professionals and other relevant agencies to provide consistent, transparent and high-quality support and assessment.

Our approach is centred on empowering parents, recognising individual strengths and promoting positive change, while maintaining the safety and welfare of every child as our highest priority.