Exeter confirmed for first of 200 new ‘Family Hubs’ in £900m rollout

Families in Exeter are set to benefit from a "reimagined" version of the Sure Start scheme, as the government confirms the city will host one of the first new "Best Start" Family Hubs.

The Chestnut Centre in Wonford has been selected as one of the initial 200 sites in a national expansion of integrated family services. The move follows a campaign by local MP Steve Race to restore the kind of universal support that was largely lost following funding cuts over the last decade.

The new hubs are part of a wider Labour Government investment of £900m over the next three years, aimed at providing "one-stop-shop" support for parents, ranging from midwifery and mental health to special educational needs (SEND) services.

Under the new plans, the Chestnut Family Hub will move beyond basic childcare to offer a "holistic" suite of services under one roof. This includes:

• Healthy Babies services: Integrating health visiting, infant feeding, and perinatal mental health.

• Dedicated outreach: New workers will be tasked with identifying vulnerable families who might otherwise "fall through the cracks."

• Early intervention: On-site practitioners will aim to spot developmental or additional needs early, preventing parents from being "passed between services."

The government's goal is to establish up to 1,000 of these hubs across all local authorities by 2028, supplemented by 2,000 "satellite" locations in libraries and leisure centres.

Exeter MP Steve Race, who encouraged Devon County Council and the government for the hub’s location, said the return of these services was vital for the city’s long-term health.

"People across Exeter know that Sure Start worked, and its abolition under the last government means it is sorely missed by families with children who need a bit of extra support. Now, Labour is rebuilding the legacy of Sure Start," Mr Race said.

"So many of the challenges we see in our communities today, from long-term worklessness to homelessness, addiction, and child poverty, often have their roots in early years support."

Marina Asvachin, City Councillor for Priory and a governor at the Chestnut Centre, welcomed the news, noting that it would save local parents from having to "pay privately to access different services."

The rollout is being spearheaded by the Education and Health departments, with a specific focus on the first 1,000 days of a child’s life. Health Secretary Wes Streeting stated the initiative is designed to ensure babies born this year become the "healthiest generation" yet.

"We know that the earliest years of a child's life shape everything that follows. But for too long, families have had to navigate a maze of services at the very moment they need simple, straightforward help," Mr Streeting said.

Education Secretary Bridget Phillipson added: "I’ve seen the difference Sure Start made in my community, and why it’s so important that we bring that support back today, reimagined for a new generation of families."

The investment includes £200m specifically for SEND practitioners and a further £200m for "Healthy Babies" services. Critics of the previous administration have long pointed to the closure of over 1,000 Sure Start centres since 2010 as a key factor in widening the attainment gap, a trend the current government says it is now moving to reverse.