CYP Now - Family hubs expansion: sector split on their role and potential

Advocates of family hubs say new government funding will help establish a network of family support facilities that complements the early years focus of children’s centres, but some fear it signals the "death knell" for them.

Family hubs are intended to offer a network of connected buildings, services and virtual help to ensure families are able to access the support they need in an integrated manner. Picture: Oksana Kuzmina/Adobe Stock

At the Spending Review, the government announced £82m to establish family hubs in 75 local authorities over the next three years. The funding is in addition to the £34m announced earlier to set up hubs in 12 pilot areas, create a national centre to co-ordinate practice and develop approaches to digital support.

Hubs that provide a wide range of services for parents and older children – as opposed to the 0-5 focus offered by children’s centres – are not a new concept: some councils have already moved to a hub model in response to deep cuts to early help budgets since 2010.

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