Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and wife Akshata Murty met parents, babies and toddlers during a visit to promote the £300 million “family hubs” programme.
They met parents at the St Austell Family Hub in Cornwall who have completed a parenting skills course and spoke to them about their experiences.
One parent spoke of her anxiety at becoming a mother and being unable to be a parent and said the hub staff really helped with her confidence.
She told the Prime Minister: “I was a bit anxious in myself and as a parent I felt I had a job to do and I felt like I couldn’t do my job.
“But I knew that wasn’t the case. They (the staff) were really, really helpful.”
Another parent said: “I was anxious about asking for help and not doing a good job.”
Mr Sunak asked one mother: “What was the thing you found most helpful in the support?”
She replied: “I think the one to one sessions I had was really helpful and someone is always there at the end of a phone.”
Another parent spoke of the difficulties of raising a child with additional needs and said the hub helped with making her feel less isolated.
The Prime Minister replied: “That the thing about finding parents in a similar situation and talking things through together.”
Mr Sunak and Ms Murty also joined a health visitor review where parent Giselle was visiting with her two sons, Brody, aged two, and six-month-old Seth.
Ms Murty talked about the 18-month age gap between the children and Giselle replied: “Hopefully they are going to share the same things.”
The Prime Minister joined in with a tower Brody was building out of blocks.
He told Brody: “You are doing it all, look at that.
“We are running out of bricks.”
Ms Murty added: “I still remember doing it with our two.”
Finally the couple spent some time at a stay-and-play group at the hub chatting to mothers and playing with their young children.
One mother asked the Prime Minister whether he had stayed overnight in Cornwall and he replied: “I just got in this morning.
“It would have been nice to get away but sadly not.”
