For many families gone are the days when their extended family lived nearby to offer regular support and guidance on caring for children.
Some new parents may think that’s not always a bad thing but overall, some of the institutional memory of family support has been lost or at least watered down. Parents often face many complex challenges about children’s health and wellbeing. Best Start Family Hubs are part of the answer, not the nanny state taking over – but the provision of support when families need it.
The Government is bringing in Best Start Family Hubs to build on the earlier experience of Sure Start introduced by the previous Labour Government but largely abandoned since. The Government has announced 200 more centres part of plans for 800 centres, one in every council area.
Too often new parents trying to access local services find that they’re just being signposted rather than supported. Best Start Family hubs will provide local services in a joined-up way, part of a push to make health provided in local neighbourhoods and part of the Government’s 10 Year Health Plan.
It’s not just about reforming support for parents but backing it with resources.
The Riverside Centre has been identified as the site for a Best Start Family hub in my constituency as part of a programme of early support. There’ll be some detractors, blaming parents or arguing for cuts to public services. But actually, Best Start Family Hubs are a practical way of helping parents, in the long-term interests of children, families and our wider community.