The UK Government announces the rollout of ‘Best Start Family Hubs’ to support 500,000 children by 2028.
This initiative aims to provide comprehensive support services, enhancing early childhood development and family well-being.
Expanding Family Support Across the UK
The UK government has committed to establishing up to 1,000 ‘Best Start Family Hubs’ by the end of 2028. This ambitious plan is backed by an investment of over £500 million, aiming to provide a unified platform for parenting support, health services, and financial advice.
Each hub will serve as a one-stop shop, ensuring that families, especially those in underserved areas, have easier access to essential services.
This initiative is expected to reach an additional 500,000 children, significantly expanding the scope of early childhood support.
Core Services Offered by the Hubs
- Health visiting and mental health services
- Support for early language development and parenting
- Debt advice and domestic abuse support
Overview of Best Start Family Hubs
Feature |
Description |
Benefit |
One Stop Shop |
Access to various support services |
Convenient access to support in local area |
Range of Services |
Health, education, and wellbeing services |
Comprehensive support for families |
Nationwide Rollout |
Available in every local authority by April 2026 |
Equal access to support across the country |
Funding |
Over £500 million investment |
Transforming existing Family Hubs and Start for Life programme |
Services Offered by Best Start Family Hubs
Service Category |
Specific Services |
Target Audience |
Child Development |
Activities for children aged 0-5, Early language support |
Families with young children |
Health and Wellbeing |
Health Visiting, Infant Feeding Support, Mental health services |
Expectant parents and families |
Family Support |
Parenting Support, Debt and welfare advice, Housing support |
Vulnerable families |
Specialist Services |
Domestic abuse support, Substance misuse support, SEND support and services |
Families in need of specialized support |
Voices from the Government
“It’s the driving mission of this government to break the link between a child’s background and what they go on to achieve – our new Best Start Family Hubs will put the first building blocks of better life chances in place for more children.”
— Bridget Phillipson, Education Secretary
“By bringing together early support services and investing £500 million in children’s development, we’re taking preventative action that will improve lives and reduce pressure on the NHS – a key part of our 10 Year Health Plan.”
— Wes Streeting, Health and Social Care Secretary
To Sum Up
The ‘Best Start Family Hubs’ are set to transform early childhood support in the UK, building on the legacy of the Sure Start program. By integrating various services under one roof, these hubs aim to provide holistic support to families, ensuring children have the best start in life.
With statutory targets for school readiness and a focus on underserved communities, the initiative also addresses long-standing inequalities in access to early childhood services.
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Sources: UK Government, Department for Education and The Rt Hon Bridget Phillipson MP.