Adam Dance MP welcomes family hub support but calls for fair funding for Somerset families

Yeovil MP Adam Dance has welcomed new Government plans to expand family support services for young children and parents but has warned that more must be done to ensure families in Somerset receive fair and consistent support.

The Government has announced the rollout of its new “Best Start Family Hubs” and “Healthy Babies” programme, backed by over £900 million. The scheme aims to bring together health, education and family services under one roof, helping families access support more easily.

As part of the plans, the Boden Centre in Chard has been identified as a local site delivering services for families in the Yeovil constituency.

Adam Dance MP said:

“This is a positive step towards joining up services and making sure families can get help in one place, close to home. We know that early support can make a huge difference to a child’s life chances.

“Spaces like the Boden Centre already play an important role in supporting local families, and it is right that they are recognised as part of this wider network.”

However, Adam also raised concerns about how the programme will be delivered locally, particularly in more rural areas like Somerset.

He added:

“Families in rural communities often face extra barriers, whether that is transport, access to services, or long waiting times. If this programme is to succeed, it must work for areas like ours, not just larger towns and cities.

“We need clear guarantees that Somerset will receive the funding and workforce it needs to deliver these services properly, and that support will be consistent across the county.”

The Best Start Family Hubs programme will offer a range of services including health support for babies, parenting advice, early years development support, and help for children with additional needs. The Government has also committed to expanding the programme further, with a target of up to 1,000 hubs and 2,000 outreach sites by 2028.

Adam is continuing to work with local partners to ensure that families across Yeovil and surrounding villages can benefit from the new services and is calling on the Government to ensure no community is left behind.