The City of Wolverhampton Council has launched a new plan aimed at transforming how local families are supported from pregnancy through to early childhood. The Best Start in Life plan, published in May 2026, outlines the city’s strategy for delivering family support services over the next three years and beyond.
This initiative follows new national guidance from the Department for Education on how councils should operate Best Start Family Hubs and Healthy Babies services. As one of three areas in England chosen to test reforms under the Families First for Children Pathfinder programme since July 2023, Wolverhampton is working to create a more streamlined system for parents to access help.
The local service expansion is part of a national investment programme backed by over £900 million in government funding. This budget includes dedicated resources for community hubs, Healthy Babies services, and specialists to support children with special educational needs and disabilities. Locally, the council is focused on providing earlier support to families to prevent problems from escalating, which is a priority given that Wolverhampton is the 20th most deprived council area in England, with one in four children living in poverty.
Wolverhampton has previously established eight family hubs across the city to act as one-stop shops for residents. These centres offer a wide variety of services, including infant feeding advice, mental health and wellbeing support, health visiting, parenting classes, and stay and play sessions. Families can also access guidance on birth registrations, welfare rights, employment advice, and support for stopping smoking.
The Best Start in Life plan sets out the council’s vision for these services through to March 2029. By building on previous work and integrating new national guidance, the council aims to ensure that families have consistent access to the support they need to help their children thrive.
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