Family Hubs: an interim review

Every child deserves to flourish. Not all children, however, enjoy the same access to the crucial elements that enable them to do so.

This has led to unequal outcomes – including an educational attainment gap, between those raised in a low-income household and their wealthier peers, that is the highest in a decade. To address this social injustice the Government introduced a universal family support programme, Family Hubs and Start for Life, in 2021, in 75 areas of deprivation.

The central principle of the Family Hub is to provide a one-stop source of information and support for parents and their children. The Centre for Social Justice set out the concept in its 2007 “Breakthrough Britain” report. Since then, Local Authorities, charities and philanthropists – as well as central Government – have adopted the idea, setting up Hubs across the country. In 2021, the previous Government introduced the family support programmes: Family Hubs and Start for Life. These programmes are open to any family at point of access but target 75 local areas with the highest levels of deprivation. In the same year, the £301.75 million Transformation Fund drove the establishment of more Hubs. There are now 388 Family Hubs across 88 Local Authorities.

The new Government has set out a commitment to address disadvantage through its Opportunity Mission, with the intention of strengthening efforts on supporting children in their Early Years. The Government will be keen to build on all the lessons from past family support programmes (including Sure Start; Start for Life; as well as Family Hubs), in order to design and deliver the most effective future policies. The new Minister for Children and Families has responsibility for Family Hubs.

The Transformation Fund, however, is set to end in March 2025. An in-depth evaluation of the Family Hubs and Start for Life programme is underway – to be published in 2026. Given the uncertain current financial context, the Centre for Social Justice has undertaken an interim review (convening existing quantitative data and carrying out a process of qualitative research) of the Hubs network. This includes speaking to Hubs that are relatively new and recipients of Transformation Fund support, as well as those that have been in existence for several years. Our intention is to capture insights directly from the ground, to paint a clear picture of the value of Family Hubs, as well as their lessons for future policy focused on supporting families.