Family Hubs trailblazers announced
In 2022 the government announced the newly created Family Hubs to support communities and young people from birth to age 19, or 25 with an EHCP. The programme will see 75 areas benefit from the investment to help families to access services more easily, with hubs acting as a ‘one stop shop’ for wraparound services including advice on getting back to work.
To fast-track this delivery the government have announced 14 areas that will be ‘trailblazers’ and receive extra funding to support other local authorities to improve their services. The authorities are:
- Blackpool
- Cornwall
- County Durham
- Coventry
- East Sussex
- Hull
- Isle of Wight
- Kent
- Manchester
- Northumberland
- Salford
- Sheffield
- Sunderland
- Torbay
Children, Families and Wellbeing Minister, Claire Coutinho said, “Having children can be really tough as well as bringing so much joy. All families, from time to time, will need a helping hand. Family hubs bring services together helping parents, carers, children and young people to access the support they need more easily. Parenting advice ranges from support with breast feeding and mental health to guidance on how to give children a head start on their learning.”
It is welcome to see that young people with SEND have been considered and that parenting will continue to be supported for the extent of childhood into adulthood. The proof will be in the impact across areas to improve the access for parents of children with SEND.
