How to win: Newham Best Start Family Hubs Befriending, Navigation and Peer Support Service

About this contract

The London Borough of Newham is looking to commission a new Voluntary, Community and Faith Sector (VCFS)-led befriending and navigation service, to complement our existing Best Start Family Hubs offer. This service should be flexible and accessible, supporting Newham families from pregnancy to age five. We are particularly interested in commissioning a model with multi-channel access, for instance with a telephone helpline and additional options such as text, WhatsApp, web-based or other virtual channels. At this stage, we want to test the market on a model that could act as a trusted first point of contact for parents and carers, particularly during out of hours periods such as evenings and weekends when other services are less available. The intention is that the service would combine informal emotional support, 'a listening ear', with practical advice, including signposting and referrals. The overall aim is to reduce isolation, build parental confidence, engage seldom heard groups, and support families to navigate local services and systems. This service will utilise a peer support approach that reflects Newham’s diverse communities, recruiting and training local volunteers to d

How to win contracts like this

• ✓Answer against the marking scheme, not the question text — London Borough of Newham scores each response, so map your evidence to the published criteria and weightings.
• ✓Lead with evidenced capability and social value — for services work these usually outweigh price.
• ✓Show recent, comparable delivery: name similar services contracts you've delivered for public bodies, with measurable outcomes.
• ✓Start early: deadlines are tight and a strong bid takes iteration.

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