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The government of England has announced a new initiative to establish family hubs in every local authority, aiming to provide parenting support and youth services to help 500,000 more children in disadvantaged areas. Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson introduced the £500 million “Best Start” family hubs, emphasizing the importance of offering a lifeline to families in need. However, the Conservative party has expressed concerns about the lack of clarity on whether this plan truly introduces new services or simply rebrands existing ones.
The concept of family hubs stems from the early 2000s when New Labour launched “Sure Start” centers, which focused on providing early education, childcare, and health advice to young families. Many of these centers closed in 2010 due to funding cuts by the Conservative government. Last year, under Rishi Sunak’s leadership, the Tories introduced 400 new “family hubs” in 75 local authorities, offering a wider range of services. Labour now plans to expand these hubs to every local authority by April 2026, with a goal of reaching up to 1,000 hubs by the end of 2028. These hubs will provide services such as birth registration, midwifery support, debt advice, and youth clubs, with the aim of giving families access to various support networks.
Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson highlighted the government’s commitment to breaking the link between a child’s background and their future achievements through the implementation of the new family hubs. Shadow Education Secretary Laura Trott criticized the lack of clarity surrounding the new initiative, pointing out a pattern of broken promises and U-turns within the current government. Save The Children charity expressed its support for the government’s efforts to make it easier for families to access the help they need. Dan Paskins, executive director at Save The Children UK, commended the government’s decision to consolidate parenting, healthcare, and education support services in one location, stating that it aligns with the organization’s work in local communities
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