£1.5m boost for early years support in North Northamptonshire for family hubs and Start for Life programme
Families and new parents in North Northamptonshire are set to receive early years support thanks to a funding boost of more than £1.5m.
A total of £1,519,400 has been given to the area for family hubs and the Start for Life programme to provide services including pregnancy support, infant feeding advice and parenting classes.
The money is part of £126m from the government’s Plan for Change funding.
North Northamptonshire Council is expected to receive at least £1,519,400 as part of the wider investment increase.
Rosie Wrighting, MP for Kettering, said: “I am absolutely delighted that families and children in Kettering will be able to access early years support through this funding boost from the Government.
“This will make such a huge difference for so many families in our community and I know that the impact will be felt for years to come.”
Children’s early years are seen as crucial to their development, health and life chances. Antenatal classes, health visitors, parenting support, baby and toddler groups and access to affordable, high-quality early education and childcare all are vital to guiding parents and supporting child development.
Yet, over 80 per cent of parents have said they struggled to access services.
Andrew Gwynne, Minister for Public Health and Prevention, said: “This crucial investment provides a strong foundation to deliver our commitment to raise the healthiest generation of children ever, by giving parents the support they need to ensure their baby has the best start in life.
“The first two years of a child’s life lay the building blocks for their physical and emotional wellbeing into adulthood.”