Kirkley Family Hub will become a Best Start Family Hub as part of the government’s plan to create up to 1,000 Best Start Family Hubs across England by 2028.

Lowestoft MP Jess Asato said she was "absolutely delighted" after securing the Best Start Family Hub for the town.

Kirkley Family Hub will become a Best Start Family Hub in Lowestoft. (Image: Jess Asato's office)

Backed by £240,000 that the Government has given to Suffolk County Council to roll out the scheme, Ms Asato said she had written to the council last October and again last month to argue that Lowestoft needs a Best Start Family Hub.

She argued that as a third of children in Lowestoft live in poverty, the council should locate a hub in the town.

Now, having campaigned for Lowestoft to be the site of one of these hubs, Ms Asato said: “As someone that used Sure Start when raising my children, I know the value of having a one-stop shop for support.

“I am very glad that the county council has listened to my calls for a Best Start Hub in Lowestoft and I look forward to working with them to ensure that families in our area can benefit from this vital programme.”

The introduction of Best Start Family Hubs build on the success of the last Labour Government’s Sure Start initiative.

These new hubs will bring together much-needed services under one roof so that parents and children can receive a wide variety of support.

Every hub will offer preventative and universal health services, particularly for babies, supportive parenting advice and open access activities like stay and play, help with children's learning and development at home, and early support for children with additional needs.

Parents can access a wide variety of support through the Best Start in Life website https://beststartinlife.gov.uk/

© Eastern Daily Press