The North East is set to benefit from a multi-million-pound package to open new Family Hubs. A huge £302 million will be shared out to 75 local authority areas in England including Durham, Newcastle, and Sunderland, it was announced on Saturday.
The Government said that £100million of the funding would be shared across eligible areas to introduce perinatal mental health support. It's also hoped the boost will improve access to parenting support and breastfeeding support.
As part of the Supporting Families programme, 300,000 of the most vulnerable families will be offered assistance from a dedicated keyworker, who will give hands-on parenting support through £700 million of funding.
Children supported by the programme were 38% less likely to end up in prison and 32% less likely to end up in care, the Government said. Meanwhile, £172 million will support care leavers in accessing housing, finance and employment advice.
The programme aims to improve health and education outcomes for parents and children, helping to tackle entrenched inequalities around the country.
It comes just ahead of the Easter holidays when hundreds of thousands of children from low-income families will also benefit from the Government’s Holiday Activities and Food programme which provides them with a healthy meal and an enriching activity to help them thrive.
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, an excellent education, help with training and practical advice for parents to support their wellbeing.
"That’s why the Spending Review has provided such significant new investment in family services, to transform services for parents and babies, young people, carers and children all over England."
Family hubs provide a space where families can come together from pregnancy onwards for support services including midwifery, health visiting 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 abuse or substance misuse.
Minister for Health, Maria Caulfield said: "The 1,001 critical days from pregnancy to the age of two are crucial for development and impact a child’s health for the rest of their life.
"I’m committed to ensuring 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 75 local authorities with disproportionately poor health and educational outcomes will be eligible for additional funding to support families earlier and offer specialised help locally.
"Everyone should have a solid foundation on which to build their health and we are determined to tackle health disparities by levelling up the opportunities for children, no matter their background or where they grow up."
One year on from Dame Andrea Leadsom’s early year's review, The Best Start for Life: A Vision for the 1,001 Critical Days, this confirmation of the 75 areas eligible to benefit marks a significant step in delivering on its recommendations.
Parent-infant relationships are crucial in the early years, and babies need strong and nurturing interactions with their caregiver as a foundation for lifelong mental health. Early intervention helps to 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 carers will also benefit from support for their wellbeing and mental health.
Government Advisor and Chair of the Early Years Review, Dame Andrea Leadsom said: "It is during the 1001 critical days from conception to age two that the building blocks for lifelong emotional and physical health are laid down. Providing joined up support for every parent and carer will be truly transformational in helping every baby get the best start for life."
