Best Start Family Hubs

Baroness Hyde of Bemerton Excerpts

Wednesday 10th June 2026 Lords Chamber

[Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab)]

I congratulate the noble Baroness on taking the opportunity to bring one of her passions into this broader debate. We understand the problems, and other departments are picking that up and taking it forward. I would not like to comment further at this stage.

[Baroness Hyde of Bemerton (Lab)]

My Lords, can my noble friend the Minister please explain how the Government will ensure that these brilliant hubs reach and build trust with all women. I am thinking, for example, of women who are the victims of domestic abuse, women who have poor mental health and women who have encountered the criminal justice system. Will she look at how women’s centres might close this gap?

[Baroness Blake of Leeds (Lab)]

I am happy to have a discussion with my noble friend but caution that family hubs will be working with all those who care for children and young people, including fathers. We have to make sure that the environment in those hubs is supportive and picks up on all the issues she has raised. From my own experience of working with Sure Start, I know that one of the most powerful things we saw was women disclosing for the first time to other women within their peer group that they were being subjected to domestic violence—not having to go through any agency or professional but getting support from other women and then being signposted to the support that they needed.