Family services hubs to opened by all England councils
The Department for Education has announced a nationwide rollout of 'Best Start' family hubs across every council in England.
A £500 million investment targets disadvantaged communities, aiming for a hub in every local authority by April 2026, with up to 1,000 hubs by the end of 2028.
These hubs will offer a range of services including birth registration, debt advice, midwifery, and support for separated parents.
The initiative aims to provide a "lifeline" to families, improve life chances for children, and build on the legacy of previous family support programmes.
While charities like Save The Children and the NAHT union welcomed the move, the Conservatives criticised it as a potential rebranding of existing services.