The North East is set to get a multi-million pound package to open new Family Hubs. A whopping £302million will be shared between 75 local authorities in England, including Durham, Newcastle and Sunderland, it was announced on Saturday.
The government said £100m of the funding would be shared between eligible areas to introduce perinatal mental health support. It is also hoped that the boost will improve access to parental support and breastfeeding support.
Under the Family Support Scheme, 300,000 of the most vulnerable families will be offered help from a dedicated key worker, who will provide practical parenting support with £700m of funding.
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Children in the care of the program were 38% less likely to end up in prison and 32% less likely to end up in care, the government said. Meanwhile, £172m will help care leavers access housing, finance and employment advice.
The program aims to improve health and education outcomes for parents and children, helping to address entrenched inequalities across the country.
(Picture: PA)
It comes just before the Easter holidays, when hundreds of thousands of children from low-income families will also benefit from the government’s holiday activity and food scheme which provides them with a healthy meal and enriching activity to help them blossom.
Minister for Children and Families, Will Quince, said: “Strong families are the very foundation of a strong society. This government is taking steps to help families at every stage of their child’s life, from early health and care services, excellent education, training support and practical advice for parents to support their well-being.
“That’s why the Spending Review has provided such a significant new investment in family services, to transform services for parents and babies, young people, carers and children across England.”
Family centers provide a space where families can come together as early as pregnancy for support services, including midwifery, medical visits and infant feeding advice. They will also improve access to ‘wrap around’ services provided by councils, voluntary and health organisations, such as support for domestic violence or substance abuse.
Health Minister Maria Caulfield said: “The critical 1,001 days between pregnancy and the age of two are crucial for development and impact a child’s health for the rest of their life. .
“I am committed to ensuring that every child has the best start in life to enable them to reach their full potential – that’s why we’re building back fairer and ensuring that 75 local authorities whose health and education are disproportionately poor will be eligible for additional funding to support families earlier and provide specialist help locally.
“Everyone should have a strong foundation on which to build their health and we are committed to addressing health disparities by improving opportunities for children, regardless of their background or where they grow up.”
One year after Dame Andrea Leadsom’s year-end review, The Best Start for Life: A Vision for the 1,001 Critical Days, this confirmation of the 75 areas eligible for benefits marks an important milestone in implementing her recommendations. .
Parent-infant relationships are crucial in the early years, and babies need strong and nurturing interactions with their caregiver as the foundation for lifelong mental health. Early intervention helps improve children’s mental health and life outcomes, which is why this investment is an important step to better support the early years of a child’s life. Parents and guardians will also benefit from support for their well-being and mental health.
Government adviser and Chair of the Early Years Review, Dame Andrea Leadsom, said: “It is during the critical 1001 days, from conception to age two, that the building blocks of health lifelong emotional and physical are laid. Providing joint support to every parent and will be truly transformative in helping every baby get the best start in life.”