The Government’s family hubs, outlined in its 2019 manifesto, are centres which provide integrated family services for children and young people from birth to 19 years of age.
Andrea Leadsom’s long-awaited Early Years Healthy Development Review in March claimed that a ‘significant number’ of local areas only offered additional family services on a ‘targeted basis in response to need’, while family hubs would plug this gap by acting as ‘places for families to access services such as breastfeeding, mental health, intensive parenting support, smoking cessation, childcare and healthcare, as well as advice on jobs and training’.
According to the Social Mobility Commission, there are around 150 family hubs across England, the majority of which are operated by local authorities, although some are run on their behalf by voluntary groups. Local authorities are now being encouraged to set up family hubs more widely by March 2024 using a £12 million Transformation Fund, while £82 million will be given to 75 local authorities to set up new hubs.
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