Thousands of parents and children are set to benefit from a £300m investment in family hubs across England, the Government today announced.
Seventy-five areas will benefit from the investment up to 2025, with the new hubs offering support with issues such as infant feeding, mental health and relationship building to children and young people through to age 19, or up to 25 for children with special education needs and disabilities.
Fourteen local authority areas will become trailblazers and receive extra funding to fast-track delivery of these services.
Children, families and wellbeing minister, Claire Coutinho said: ‘Family hubs bring services together helping parents, carers, children and young people to access the support they need more easily.
‘Parenting advice ranges from support with breast feeding and mental health to guidance on how to give children a head start on their learning.’
The 14 trailblazer areas include: Torbay, Sheffield, County Durham, Cornwall, Salford, Kent, Sunderland, Manchester, Northumberland, Hull, Coventry, Blackpool, East Sussex, and Isle of Wight.
The Government is also confirming the final five areas to receive investment from the Family Hubs Transformation Fund, which will transition services which used to operate under the Sure Start banner over to the Family Hub model. This will enable a further 12 local authorities across England to open family hubs by March 2024.
These 12 local authorities are: Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole, Brighton and Hove, Cheshire East, Cumbria, Dorset, Hammersmith and Fulham, Leicestershire, Merton, Solihull, Stockport, Wirral, and York.
Responding to the announcement, Cllr Ted Henderson, Durham County Council’s cabinet member for children and young people’s services, said: 'We are thrilled to have been selected as a trailblazer for the Family Hubs and Start for Life Programme, allowing us to demonstrate how we can integrate our services to give the best support we possibly can for parents and children across the county.'
Cllr Mike White, portfolio holder for Children and Young People, said: 'The current cost of living crisis combined with the effects of the global pandemic have had a huge impact on local children, young people and families.
'We are committed to do all that we can to help. The right support provided at the earliest opportunity can make all the difference. The family hub transformation project will enable BCP Council and our partners in health and the community to provide this support and help our next generation to reach their full potential.'
