The fund is set to help thousands of young families in the most deprived areas (Image: GETTY)
The Government is offering a total of £126million aimed at young families to help with the . This significant boost, targeting expectant individuals and young families in England’s most deprived areas, is part of the government’s initiative to provide additional support.
The funds will be used for services such as parenting classes, pregnancy support, infant feeding advice, and more, all designed to give young children a strong start in life.
A substantial £57million of this fund will be allocated specifically to 75 local authorities throughout 2025 and 2026 to enhance the Start for Life services.
These services are available to eligible families from pregnancy until their child reaches two years old. The funding increase includes mental health support for families, infant feeding services, and improved access and understanding of local Start for Life services.
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The full list of English local authorities receiving this boost includes Bedford, Luton, Norfolk, Peterborough and Thurrock in the East of England, as well as County Durham, Gateshead, Hartlepool, Middlesborough, Newcastle upon Tyne, Northumberland, Redcar and Cleveland, South Tyneside and Sunderland in the North East.
Authorities in the South East, including East Sussex, Isle of Wight, Kent, Medway, Portsmouth, and Southampton, are among those set to benefit from the funding. In the North West, areas such as Blackburn with Darwen, Blackpool, Bolton, Halton, Knowsley, Liverpool, Manchester, Oldham, Rochdale, Salford, St Helens, and Tameside will also receive a share.
The South West will see Bristol, City of Cornwall, Plymouth, and Torbay receive funding. In the Midlands, the funding will go to Derby, Leicester, Lincolnshire, North Northamptonshire, Nottingham, Birmingham, Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell, Stoke-on-Trent, Telford and Wrekin, Walsall, and Wolverhampton.
In Yorkshire and the Humber, Barnsley, Bradford, Calderdale, Doncaster, Kingston upon Hull, City of North East Lincolnshire, North Lincolnshire, Rotherham, Sheffield, and Wakefield are included. London boroughs set to benefit from the additional funding include Barking and Dagenham, Brent, Camden, Croydon, Enfield, Greenwich, Hackney, Haringey, Hounslow, Islington, Lambeth, Lewisham, Newham, Southwark, Tower Hamlets, and Waltham Forest.
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This funding comes on top of the £69 million announced in the Budget for creating a network of family hubs, described as a “one-stop shop for families” providing support, advice, and services throughout children’s early years.
The boost comes after official government data revealed over 80% of parents say they have struggled to access much-needed early years services for their children, which can act as a barrier separating children from their peers before they even start school.
Around 90% of reception teachers reported at least one child in their class is not yet toilet trained, for example. Labour’s Plan for Change aims to address these opportunity gaps with a goal of 75% of five year olds being at a good level of development in early years foundation stage assessment by 2028.
Parents trying to get support through a family hub will need to ensure they’re part of the three eligible groups:.
- An expectant parent or carer.
- A parent or carer of a child aged 0 to 19, or 25 with special educational needs or a disability.
- A young person up to the age of 19, or up to 25 with special educational needs or a disability.