As part of his budget on Wednesday, chancellor Rishi Sunak announced he would be making available £500 million in additional funding for families.
It is understood the fund will split across four broad areas: £80 million to go into Family Hubs (set up to provide families with a variety of services, from breastfeeding advice to mental health support for both children and parents), £100 million to support new and expecting parents' mental health, and £120 million into differing family support programmes.
A further £200 million is expected to become available over the next three years as part of the Supporting Families Programme which aims to help vulnerable families working through challenging issues.
It is believed that 300,00 families in the UK are set to benefit from this boost.
The Treasury reports that by the end of the three years the new funding will take investment in the Supporting Families Programme to almost £700 million.
Am I eligible for the Supporting Families Programme fund?
The exact details of the how Supporting Families funding will be divvied out are yet to be fully disclosed, and so at this stage it is hard to tell exactly who is set to benefit.
However, a government report published in March this year providing guidance to local authorities on how to enact the Supporting Families Programme prior to the budget's new cash injection identified six key 'problems' that each potential recipient must exhibit at least two of.
It adds that recipients must have dependent children or have a child on the way.
The six 'problems' that would make families eligible are:
"Staying safe in the community: Parents or children involved in crime or anti-social behaviour
"Getting a good education and skills for life: Children who have not been attending school regularly
"Improving children’s life chances: children who need additional support, from the earliest years to adulthood
"Improving living standards: families experiencing or at risk of worklessness, homelessness or financial difficulties
"Staying safe in relationships: families affected by domestic abuse
"Living well, improving physical and mental health and wellbeing: Parents and children with a range of health needs"
While it remains to be see whether the latest bump to the Supporting Families budget will change the criteria, it is likely it won't stray too far from the previous stipulations.
How is the £300 million boost been regarded my MPs?
Chancellor Rishi Sunack said: “I passionately believe that we have a duty to give young families and their children the best possible start in life.
"I’m thrilled that this investment will guarantee that thousands of families across England are given support to lead healthy and happy lives.”
Discussing the package ahead of the budget Labour's shadow education secretary, Kate Green said: This supposed commitment rings hollow after 11 years of Conservative cuts have forced the closure of over 1,000 children’s centres – cutting off the early learning that sets children up for life.
She added: “This has come alongside the government stripping away early intervention children’s services, allowing problems to escalate into crises. This is a smokescreen for the Conservatives’ failure to deliver for families.”
