Programme: The February government announcement set in motion the 2019 manifesto commitment to champion family hubs.
What are the main points?
- Family hubs will be rolled out in communities of most need: 75 areas with high deprivation will benefit from the £300m investment, with thousands of families offered help.
- The new hubs will act as a ‘one-stop shop’ to offer support right from conception through to age 19, or up to 25 for children with special education needs and disabilities. Guidance and advice will be offered on issues such as infant feeding, mental health support and health visits.
- The government is also confirming the final five areas to receive investment to transition the services that used to operate under the Sure Start banner to family hubs. This will allow 12 more local authorities to open hubs by March 2024.
Expert thought
The government’s early years healthy development adviser Dame Andrea Leadsom said: ‘The best start for life is the most fundamental right of all. There is quite literally no better place to invest, either for human happiness or value for taxpayers’ money.’
Image credit | Alamy
