Poverty and Families: Challenges, Impacts and the Role of Family Hubs

Overview of policy to boost early years development and reduce poverty 

December 2024  - government launches the  Plan for Change setting an ‘opportunity mission’ to ensure that all children can achieve ‘no matter who they are, where they’re from, or how much their parents earn’. A milestone is set for ‘75% of five-year-olds to achieve a good level of development by 2028.’  The plan includes a commitment to expand support services for families with children 0-5 years in every council area

July 2025 - Giving every child the best start in life  is published with a commitment to transform support for families, particularly those experiencing poverty. The strategy establishes Best Start Family Hubs in the areas of highest deprivation, supported by wider outreach to underserved communities. The focus on prevention and community-based early support aligns with the NHS 10 Year Health Plan, the neighbourhood health framework and Healthy Child programme.

The Association of Directors of Children’s Services responds by emphasising the need for integrated services and action on the root causes of poverty. They note that even if the 75% development target is achieved, a significant number of children will still begin school behind.

December 2025 - the government’s  Our Children Our Future child poverty strategy is published. It highlights the need to reduce socioeconomic and geographic inequalities and to build strong, inclusive local economies.  Key measures include expanding school based nursery provision, increasing the Early Years Pupil Premium, and strengthening early intervention through the Families First Partnership. Alongside this will be support for families with No Recourse to Public Funds, devolving greater powers to Mayors and strategic authorities, the Pride in Place Programme investing in areas with highest economic deprivation and the weakest social infrastructure, and the Better Futures Fund bringing together communities with government and third sector investors to establish Social Outcomes Partnerships. 

The government also plans to commence the socio-economic duty (Equalities Act, 2010) requiring public bodies to consider how their actions might help reduce inequalities. Progress will be monitored through the Local Outcomes Framework and overseen by a Child Poverty Team within the Department for Work and Pensions.

April 2026-  Best Start Family Hubs co-produced with families, open as welcoming, non-judgemental spaces in areas with the greatest need – with 70% of hubs in the 30% most deprived areas. Outreach activity supports parents to engage with available services in person and online – plus referral through family navigators onto a network of wider services such as support with the cost of living. Councils publish a shared vision for Best Start Family Hubs at the heart of prevention-led, universal and accessible services. Detailed implementation plans are co-produced with families and wider stakeholders. Many councils choose to use a Common Outcomes approach to track improvements in outcomes for babies, young children and families.

From April 2026, the new Crisis and Resilience Fund comes into effect, providing local authorities with grant funding to deliver resilience-building support to communities and help those residents facing financial crisis. 

Guidance for enhancing support to families with babies and young children, including those experiencing poverty.

The Department for Education (DfE) and Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) have produced guidance on implementing Best Start Family Hubs and Healthy Babies programmes to reach diverse communities, reduce inequalities and ensure that more babies, children and families benefit from the support that makes the greatest difference. Further guidance is available on wider service expectations beyond the core offer, including cost of living assistance.

The LGA’s National Centre for Family Hubs supports councils and partners to deliver the Best Start in Life and Healthy Babies programmes, recognising that children’s deprivation is shaped by both poverty in families and communities.

The LGA’s Tackling Poverty and Disadvantage hub provides case studies and practical guidance on direct support and strategic approaches to reducing poverty, inequality and disadvantage, including work on financial resilience, partnerships, skills and employment.

The DHSC have produced local data sets which include demographic, educational, health and economic deprivation characteristics for children and families.

Interactive data dashboards on education outcomes have been produced by the DfE - these are accessible to those with a DfE sign-in account 

Child Poverty Action Group – publish data and approaches for action on child poverty https://cpag.org.uk/child-poverty

Joseph Rowntree Foundation (JRF) – have produced an analysis of the causes and consequences of poverty https://www.jrf.org.uk/uk-poverty-2026-the-essential-guide-to-understanding-poverty-in-the-uk and guidance on using longitudinal income data to track changes in poverty over time.

National Children’s Bureau have published a report with insights and case studies from A Better Start projects in areas of high deprivation on tackling early childhood inequalities 

This National Literacy Trust research compares how parents, including those experiencing poverty, supported early learning and literacy at home in 2025 with data from 2019 and makes recommendations.

Parents' support for young children's literacy at home in 2025 | National Literacy Trust 
 

Nesta – A Fairer Start programme runs mission-driven projects so that ‘from 2030 every child has the same chance of developing to their full potential in the early years’. The report Exploring the impact of family income on child development builds evidence on how financial support for families on low-income affects inequalities in childhood development.

Save the Children UK takes a systems change approach in partnership with communities to tackling poverty. This report examines barriers to early learning in families with low incomes.

UNICEF UK and NSPCC (2024) recently published research on improving accessibility to early childhood services ‘Opening Doors: access to early childhood services by families impacted by poverty’ 

Tackling Poverty and Building Resilience for the Best Start in Life

Key themes from a roundtable hosted by the LGA’s National Centre for Family Hubs on 18^th March 2026 to inform the development of our Best Start in Life implementation toolkit.

Across the country, councils and partners are rethinking how to tackle child poverty and strengthen families’ resilience through accessible and inclusive Best Start Family Hubs and wider community networks. A roundtable convened by the LGA’s National Centre for Family Hubs (NCFH) brought together practitioners, VCFS (voluntary, community, and frontline sectors) leaders and system partners to share what’s working on the ground. Despite wide diversity in local context, several powerful themes emerged - about partnership, dignity, prevention and the role of community in supporting families through hardship.

Integrated local partnerships are essential for tackling poverty

Local councils showed the value of strategic, cross‑sector partnerships that bring together Family Help, health, schools, libraries, VCFS organisations and welfare support teams. Whether through developing Cost‑of‑Living booklets, family hub‑based advisors, or multi‑agency Best Start in Life groups, the most effective work to support families’ resilience happens when partners align their messages, data and pathways to make support easier to access.  

Tailored, dignified support matters more than ever

Across the discussion, dignity emerged as a core principle. One council spoke of plans to develop a Poverty Aware programme highlighting the realities of “support on paper” versus support that families can actually reach - particularly when travel, time, stigma or confidence are barriers. A local voluntary sector peer support project takes this further by offering wraparound perinatal support that meets families where they are, including those with No Recourse to Public Funds. It recognises that even accessing a food bank can be daunting when caring for a baby. Whilst food banks are one way to support families with young children – peer support together with direct payments for food or formula milk transform the system of support for families, meaning that visiting a food bank is no longer the only option. One local council is trialling  a Family Hubs Pregnancy grant (see the Nesta toolkit) with the aim to offer timely, meaningful support to pregnant people experiencing financial hardship – on their terms.

Community-led and peer support models build deep trust

From peer breastfeeding supporters to small hyper‑local VCFS organisations, trusted relationships were repeatedly cited as the backbone of effective early‑years intervention.  As a Parent Carer Forum (for families with experience of SEND) representative observed, parents often turn first to someone who reflects their lived experience. “Universal services aren’t universally received,” and lessons from A Better Start,  a long-term early years transformation programme, show that tailoring support through trusted peers and community networks beyond hubs is essential for reaching families in poverty.

Time and investment in relationships are non-negotiable

Supporting families through networks of peer supporters takes time - time to build trust, to understand underlying issues, and to help families navigate complex systems. Yet funding and commissioning frameworks often overlook this relational work. Community organisations provide enormous value, but their services are not free. Many VCFS organisations are underfunded and staffed by workers experiencing financial pressures themselves. Sustainable investment is critical if we expect them to deliver long‑term, high‑quality support.  

Hidden barriers still exclude families

Several contributors highlighted the “hidden costs” of supposedly free early‑years activities - coats, snacks, transport, spare clothing, or simply the mental load of getting there. One VCFS organisation shared examples of designing low‑cost activities with materials readily found in the home, lending libraries and inclusive messaging so that families feel represented and able to take part.  

Crisis support must sit alongside long-term resilience building

The new Crisis and Resilience Fund (CRF, 2026–29) places emphasis on both immediate support (such as food, clothing and essentials) and system‑wide approaches like no‑wrong‑door access and community coordination. Some councils are already developing referral pathways, flow charts and test‑and‑learn models to operationalise the CRF. However, concerns about services stretched thinly and monitoring complexities highlight the need for ongoing shared learning opportunities and consistency of support across geographical boundaries.  The LGA’s Poverty and Disadvantage Hub is valued for bringing together case studies and examples on both specific support and on broader strategic approaches to alleviating poverty, reducing disadvantage, narrowing inequality and improving outcomes.

Practical community solutions are strengthening local resilience

Innovative schemes - from community fridges preventing food waste to hygiene product cupboards, and tech recycling schemes demonstrate how small, practical interventions can have a big impact. These services reduce stigma, improve health and wellbeing and give families more control. They also rely heavily on volunteers, donations and strong cross‑sector coordination.  

A shared commitment to dignity, equity and prevention

Across different local authorities and VCFS organisations, the common thread is clear: resilient families are built through relationships, dignity‑centred support, and systems designed around real lived experience with the voice of babies, children and families at the core. Prevention and crisis response must work hand‑in‑hand, and local areas are showing powerful examples of how practical community action can transform outcomes.

The challenge ahead is to ensure sustainable funding, consistent approaches and inclusive partnerships that truly reflect the communities they serve. When this happens, family-centred, early‑years support becomes not only accessible - but equitable, empowering and life‑changing.

Thanks to the following organisations for their insights (at the roundtable and after) in shaping this Tackling Poverty for the Best Start in Life toolkit:

Birmingham city council, Nottingham city council, Leicestershire county council, LB Tower Hamlets, Portsmouth city council, National Children’s Bureau, National Literacy Trust, Groundwork, Centre for Mental Health, Leicester Mammas, Home-Start UK, Nesta – A Fairer Start, National Network of Parent Carer Forums, Leicester City Parent Carer Forum, Holy Sepulchre London, LGA Poverty and Disadvantage Hub, LGA CYP Policy team, University of Sheffield and Tech‑Takeback Foundation.

We are keen to extend this toolkit and will be hosting a national webinar to share learning on tackling poverty and building resilience through the Best Start in Life programme. To contribute your practice, share ideas and to learn more please contact: Monica Hingorani, LGA, [email protected]

Why Poverty Affects Families

Financial Stress and Parental Wellbeing

Families living in poverty often experience chronic financial stress, including difficulty affording food, heating, childcare, and transport. This persistent strain increases rates of parental anxiety, depression, and stress, which can reduce caregivers’ emotional availability and capacity to engage positively with children. Research consistently shows that parental mental health is a key mediator between poverty and child outcomes.

Impact on Children’s Development

Children growing up in poverty are more likely to experience poorer health outcomes, delayed language development, and lower educational attainment. Limited access to nutritious food, safe housing, learning materials, and enriching activities can hinder cognitive and social development, particularly in the early years. These early disadvantages can persist into adolescence and adulthood, reinforcing intergenerational cycles of poverty.

Housing and Environmental Factors

Low‑income families are more likely to live in overcrowded, temporary, or poor‑quality housing. Housing insecurity can disrupt routines, schooling, and access to local services. Unsafe or unstable environments increase exposure to risk factors such as domestic stress, social isolation, and limited community support.

Barriers to Accessing Services

Families in poverty often face structural barriers when trying to access support, including lack of transport, digital exclusion, stigma, and fragmented service systems. Services that are dispersed, complex, or crisis‑led can be difficult to navigate, meaning families may not receive help until problems escalate.

Integrated, Whole‑Family Support

Family Hubs bring together a range of services—early help, health, parenting support, employment advice, and SEND support—within a single, accessible system. By working with the whole family rather than focusing on individual issues in isolation, hubs address the interconnected nature of poverty‑related challenges.

Early Intervention and Prevention

By offering support early—particularly in the 0–5 age range—Family Hubs help prevent issues associated with poverty from escalating into crisis. Services such as health visiting, perinatal mental health support, and early learning guidance can positively influence child development and parental confidence before problems become entrenched.

Reducing Stigma and Improving Access

Family Hubs are designed to be community‑based, welcoming, and universal in appearance, reducing the stigma often associated with targeted or statutory services. Co‑location and coordinated referral pathways make it easier for families to access multiple forms of support without repeating their story or navigating complex systems.

Strengthening Social Capital

Hubs also play a crucial role in reducing social isolation by connecting families with peer support, community groups, and local networks. Stronger social connections can buffer the effects of poverty, improve mental wellbeing, and increase resilience.

Supporting Economic Stability

Many Family Hubs include access to employment support, debt advice, welfare guidance, and childcare information. Helping families maximise income, manage finances, and move closer to employment can directly reduce poverty while improving parents’ sense of control and self‑efficacy.

Poverty affects families through multiple, overlapping pathways that influence health, relationships, and life chances. Addressing its impact requires coordinated, preventative, and family‑centred approaches. Family Hubs offer a practical and evidence‑informed model that responds to the complexity of poverty by integrating services, reducing barriers, and supporting families earlier and more effectively. While hubs alone cannot eliminate poverty, they play a critical role in mitigating its effects and promoting better outcomes for children and families.