Spurgeons host House of Commons event for family hubs

The event provided the opportunity for staff, MPs and local authorities to hear about the great support that family hubs are providing in local communities, and why we believe the new government needs to continue funding. 

Why family hubs are important

We firmly believe that family hubs- centres providing a range of helpful services and signposting for families and children from ages 0-19- are more vital than ever. Working closely with local authorities, we hope to expand our reach further into different settings for hubs, such as libraries and churches. 

‘Family hubs are exactly what we need to help families thrive in difficult times,' says Catherine Barker, Spurgeons' Policy and Public Affairs Advisor.  'This event is about celebrating what local authorities have achieved so far and making sure we maintain momentum. We need family hubs in every local authority, giving children the best start for life.’

The family hubs model was recommended to the government in 2016 following research by the All Party Parliamentary Group on Children’s Centres, and was supported by Children’s Commissioner, Anne Longfield CBE.   

Hubs provide a place for families to access information, help or support. Services provided include breastfeeding advice, children's language and reading support, relationship advice, and domestic abuse support and signposting. 

Support for family hubs

Children's Commissioner Rachel De Souza, who spoke at the event, said: 'We need to be supporting family hubs. I feel so passionate about this… In my Family Review ... I looked at the role of family in children's lives. Children and families spoke about how sometimes things could get too much to deal with and that they needed more intensive support from services…. whether that's debt, joblessness, other problems. But too often families felt these services weren't designed for families, but actually designed for individuals who exist in isolation. And that’s the error and that's what we need to get right. They want services to understand them, to be non-judgmental and to be there for the long term, to be like family. And that's why I love family hubs’.

'Many of the most powerful voices who advocate for children came together to celebrate the impact of family hubs, but also demand their continuation and increased funding,' says Ian Soars, CEO of Spurgeons. 'Most encouraging was the number of connections, meetings and plans being arranged around the room to increase partnership, cooperation and the impact in children's lives.'

Janet Daby MP, Minister for Children and Families, said: 'Since 2022, around £300 million has been invested in 75 local authorities to develop family hubs and start for life services and funding targeted to local authorities in most urgent need. Hubs are one stop shops where professionals and partners can work together, supporting and strengthening the family relationships that are so important throughout life...These hubs can be a lifeline. They can make a massive difference to parents, carers and children's extended families, friends, neighbours, to our communities and to our neighbourhoods. They can put in place a support structure, enabling a variety of services to act quickly before problems escalate. And that's what we want. We want to help. We want to help early and we want to prevent difficulties in the future.'

Continuing important work

Over the last 4 years, more than half of the country's local authorities have worked to deliver family hubs. The current funding ends in March 2025, and there is so much work yet to do. Having set up family hubs, we are keen to continue our work with families and spread to new areas. 

We are asking MPs at our event to help support continuing this vital support for families across the country. With levels of mental health problems in the UK higher than ever and many struggling with the cost of living and the effects of the pandemic, we want to be there to help. Without these services, families could be facing further difficulties and a lack of vital support. 

The long term effects of this diminishing support via hubs will cause a further decline in health and wellbeing, and employment and education. 

Find out more about our various hubs and services here.