What young inspectors found at two Blackburn family hubs

Politics Desk 2026-10-09 17:05 2 min read

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Two family support centres in Blackburn with Darwen have received Gold certification after young inspectors assessed how welcoming, accessible and useful they are to local families. Livesey and Shadsworth Family Hubs were recognised following visits, interviews and reports by the BWD Young Inspectors project.

What the inspectors assessed

The project gives young people a chance to inspect services they use and offer critical, constructive feedback. Inspectors said both hubs provided a welcoming, non-judgemental place to seek support, advice and guidance.

Their reports highlighted staff’s shared focus on supporting families and young people, and opportunities for children and families to influence the services they receive. The reports also said children’s voices are central to sessions and support at the hubs.

Services available at the hubs

Family Hubs bring together a range of services under one roof. They support families from pregnancy through to adulthood, including young people with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) up to age 25.

What young inspectors found at two Blackburn family hubs

Shadsworth’s nursery was also recognised for acting as a SEND Hub. The inspection report noted specialist staff, additional equipment and resources, tailored support for children with diverse needs, guidance for families navigating SEND pathways, and close work with health, education and specialist services.

Deputy Youth MP Arianna Sultana said young inspectors were able to assess the hubs from a young person’s perspective and felt their views were listened to. Former Youth MP Zainab Shah said the inspections gave insight into the services and activities available to people using the hubs.

Source: Blackburn with Darwen Council News

Context & actions About this article

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This report follows the supplied account of the young inspectors’ findings and the services described by the council.

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Confirmed the two hub names and Gold certification in the supplied source.
Checked that the inspection project is described as involving young people in service revi...
Kept the SEND Hub details specific to Shadsworth’s nursery.

Blackburn with Darwen Council News Check local context