10 January 2025
Donna Molloy OBE, Deputy Chief Executive of Foundations (1), responds to today’s announcement that the Government’s Start for Life programme funding will be extended until March 2026 (2):
“We welcome the Government’s ambition to help raise the healthiest generation of children ever, and the announcement of £57 million for Start for Life to support families in some of the most deprived areas of the country.
“The measures announced today to support parents of babies up the age of two recognise the crucial role of parenting support in promoting children’s healthy development.
“We know that evidence-based parenting support significantly reduces the inequalities in children’s development that emerge early between disadvantaged and better off children.
“The multi-year Spending Review is an opportunity for the Government to build on today’s announcement. It’s time to embed end-to-end, evidence-based parenting support across all existing programmes for children and families, from Start for Life and family hubs to family and early help and the edge of care.
“Today’s news is a promising first step in the scale up of evidence-based parenting support, which we know is needed to deliver the Government’s ambition to bring about long-term improvements in children’s outcomes.”
For further information, please contact Charlotte Kelsted, Senior Press Officer: 07773 647 480 / charlotte.kelsted@foundations.org.uk
Notes to editors
- Foundations is the What Works Centre for Children & Families. We believe all children should have the foundational relationships they need to thrive in life. We’re researching, generating, and translating evidence into practical solutions that shape better policy and practice and lead to more effective family support services.
- https://www.gov.uk/government/news/families-to-receive-126-million-in-early-years-support
