A READING MP has welcomed the announcement of government funding for a new series of support services aimed at improving the lives of children and parents.
Olivia Bailey, MP for Reading West and Mid Berkshire, said that a £260,000 investment into Reading and West Berkshire’s family services will be “transformative,” following the announcement on Tuesday, October 14.
The government announced development grants which would provided to local authorities to ensure every community can set up a ‘Best Start Family Hub’–including £128,712 in West Berkshire and £132,748 in Reading.
The grant comes on top of an over £500 million investment to deliver up to 1,000 hubs across the country, rolling out from April 2026.
The hubs will intended to act as a one stop shop for parents seeking a range of support, including on difficulty breastfeeding, housing issues or children’s early development and language,
This aims to reassure families that they have convenient access to support in their local area or can be efficiently connected to specialist local services.
The announcement comes as new data reveals the scale of ‘information overwhelm’ facing modern parents, with one in three now turning to social media for early years advice and almost seven in ten saying they feel confused by conflicting information online.
The government has launched its Best Start in Life campaign, offering evidence-based guidance from trusted experts in one easy-to-access place. aimed at reaching parents across TV, radio and social media, as well as in Family Hubs, GP surgeries, libraries and early years settings.
Education Secretary, Bridget Phillipson said: “It’s the driving mission of this government to break the link between a child’s background and what they go on to achieve – our new Best Start Family Hubs will put the first building blocks of better life chances in place for more children.
“I saw firsthand how initiatives like Sure Start helped level the playing field, transforming the lives of children by putting in place family support in the earliest years of life, and as part of our Plan for Change, we’re building on its legacy for the next generation of children.
“Making sure hard-working parents are able to benefit from more early help is a promise made, and promise kept – delivering a lifeline of consistent support across the nation, ensuring health, social care and education work in unison to ensure all children get the best start in life.”
Ms Bailey said: “I’m so pleased that this Labour government is providing the necessary funding for family services in our local authorities, helping to give every child in Reading West and Mid Berkshire the best possible start in life.
“After years of Conservative cuts to these vital services, this is the difference a Labour MP and a Labour government can make for children and families in our area.
“This over £260,000 investment to open local Best Start family hubs will be transformative – alongside free breakfast clubs and government-funded childcare, we are delivering on our Plan for Change.”
