Families will be able to get a share of £300million extra in childcare programmes, the Chancellor said in his Budget today.
Rishi Sunak said this would include holiday activity schemes and a network of family hubs.
Family hubs are a single place where families can get services like childcare, midwifery services, breastfeeding help and job advice.
Also he said up to 300,000 more families can tap into an extra £200million investment in the Supporting Families programme.
This scheme tries to help families get through problems that can otherwise cause them to break down.
The chancellor put £80million towards family hubs, £100million for parents with poor mental health and £120million for other family support programmes.
However, thousands of families across the UK are already missing out on money from the government to help towards childcare.
Families are eligible to save money on their childcare and benefit from a government top-up worth up to £2,000 every year - or up to £4,000 a year if a child is disabled.
But many are not claiming the cash.
In June 2021, about 40,165 families in the North West benefited from using Tax-Free Childcare, but thousands are missing out.
Tax-Free Childcare is available to eligible parents or carers who have children aged up to 11, or 17 if their child is disabled.
For every £8 a parent or carer deposits into their account, they will receive a £2 top-up, up to the value of £500 every three months, or £1,000 if their child is disabled.
Parents and carers can check their eligibility and register for Tax-Free Childcare via GOV.UK .
The 20% top-up is paid into the child’s Tax-Free Childcare account and should be ready to use almost instantly.
Parents and carers can use the money towards the cost of childminders, breakfast and after school clubs, and approved play schemes.
Sunak also confirmed the government would launch a Household Support Fund, with £500million of funding.
This is meant to help vulnerable people pay for food, clothing or other household bills.
It will be distributed in the form of grants and handed out by councils in England.
The DWP said devolved administrations will receive up to £79million of the total £500million pot from the Household Support Fund.
Each council in England will decide how to divvy out its share of the Household Support Fund.
This means local authorities will set their own eligibility criteria, as well as deciding what the money can be spent on.
It can be used to pay bills, get council tax support or to help provide food for families.
But you should note that different areas will be given different amounts of cash depending on their size and how many people are struggling.
