Blackpool Family Hubs hosts free baby shower for new parents, April 20

Expectant and new parents in Blackpool will be able to pick up more than a gift bag at a free baby shower on Monday, April 20. The event runs from 12:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at South Family Hub inside Palatine Leisure Centre, and no booking is required, making it an easy drop-in for families balancing newborn care, medical appointments and tight budgets.

Anyone who is expecting a baby or has recently welcomed one is welcome, and the afternoon is being framed as a low-pressure way to meet people while getting practical help. Families will be offered a free bump-or-baby photo shoot with a professional photographer, along with refreshments, activity sessions for parents and babies, and guidance from local services. That mix turns the gathering into more than a one-off celebration. It gives parents an early way into support that can matter when the cost of a cot, pram, nappies and feeding supplies quickly adds up.

The baby shower also doubles as outreach for Blackpool Family Hubs, which launched in July 2023 and had seen more than 10,000 people through the doors by July 31, 2025. Blackpool Council says the network will offer more than 50 sessions across its hubs by September 2025, with three sites now operating at Central on Gorton Street, North on Dingle Avenue and South inside Palatine Leisure Centre on St Anne’s Road. The council says families can access services under one roof, including Better Start Blackpool, Citizens Advice and NHS services, while Blackpool Better Start describes the hubs as a one-stop shop open to parent-to-be, new parents, grandparents and carers.

The council’s wider push to raise awareness has been built around the Learn, Play, Support, Brew campaign, launched in June 2025 to signpost residents to what the hubs offer. Cllr Jim Hobson said the hubs are helping children in Blackpool get the best start in life and thrive in a safe environment. Parents have backed that message from experience, with Sarah Daniels saying the hubs helped her get out of the house and meet other new mums, while Daisy Hollis said Sensory Time had a huge positive effect on her baby’s development.

Palatine Leisure Centre adds practical appeal to the South Family Hub location at 207 St Anne’s Road, FY4 2AP. The site has extensive parking and is served by buses 11A, 5 and 68, details that matter for families arriving with prams, baby bags and little time to spare.