Best Start Family Hubs

Baroness Pitkeathley Excerpts

Tuesday 27th January 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab)]

I think the noble Baroness references the value of the voluntary, community and faith sector. I reassure her that we are investing £2.25 million in five organisations to help with exactly the areas she is suggesting, to break down barriers and enable people to access services. We know from the Sure Start model that bringing parents and families together from a range of backgrounds is invaluable in helping them get the support they need. We hope to build on that model.

[Baroness Pitkeathley (Lab)]

My Lords, families with children with special needs or disabilities often have very particular needs that are often overlooked. Can my noble friend expand on what services are being made available to those parent carers?

[Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab)]

My noble friend, as always, raises an important point. We have committed in the best start in life strategy to having a children and family services practitioner in each family hub to support children and families with additional needs. We recognise just how significant demand is this year, particularly for early years. We look forward to the SEND reform White Paper, which will come out soon and help progress this further.