Family Hubs To Be Launched in Hounslow Borough
Chiswick Councillor welcomes government's replacement for SureStart
Cllr Mushiso welcomes 'fantastic, innovative programme'
Hounslow has been chosen as one of the local authority areas in which the government will be launching family hubs, its new package of support for infants, children and vulnerable families in Hounslow.
The programme aims to increase access to support, guidance, and resources for thousands of new-borns, children, and families from birth to adulthood. The centres will offer advice to parents on how to care for their children and keep them safe and healthy, as well as parenting and breastfeeding assistance.
The government has promised broad assistance for individuals who need extra help to reach their full potential throughout its main family programmes.
The Conservatives say that £82 million will be available for this scheme in 75 areas over the next three years as part of a broader £302 million support programme.
This includes £100 million for bespoke parent-infant relationship and perinatal mental health support, £50 million to establish breastfeeding support services and £50 million to fund evidence-based parenting programmes
Cllr Ron Mushiso, the Conservative spokesperson for Education and Youth Services in the borough said, ‘It is critical to ensure that every child receives adequate assistance throughout their lives in order to help them succeed in the future. I welcome this news that Hounslow will benefit from this fantastic innovative programme to improve the lives of our residents’.
To help parents, 75 local governments have been selected to receive a share of £302 million to establish new Family Hubs in their communities. The £302 million for the Family Hubs and Start for Life programme includes:
Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi said, ‘If we are to level up outcomes for children facing the biggest challenges, this needs to start at home. Being part of a stable, loving family gives a child an early advantage, which is why we are investing so significantly in helping every family to access the vital services that help them, and their children thrive.’
The programme is widely seen as a replacement for Sure Start which was set up by a Labour government in 1998 but scrapped by the Conservatives with over 1,000 centres being closed.
Labour has described the family hub programme as a pale imitation of the previous scheme and have described the rollout as 'half-hearted' because it does not cover the whole country.
Helen Hayes, "Labour’s shadow minister for children and early years said, "There has been no articulation of a core offer of what constitutes a family hub. It's really not clear what the offer is for every community in the country or even the communities that need that support the most.”
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April 10, 2022