At the Vic, I recently held a drop-in where I met with local parents – including expectant fathers – to talk about the highs, the lows and the challenges of raising a family in Hitchin today.

One thing that was brought up consistently was the struggle to find local early years support that so many families need. It's an issue I've heard again and again, from parents at school gates to families on the doorstep. Whether it's baby groups, parenting advice, or accessible services close to home – right now, too many parents are being left to navigate those first crucial years without the help they need.

From Langford to Hitchin to Kimpton and all the towns and villages in between, there is no better place to start or grow a family. It's no surprise that more and more young families are choosing to settle here. But as we grow, so too does the need for support to match that growth - and right now, it's falling short.

Every child deserves the best start in life. But all too often, the services families receive depend on where they live. That postcode penalty isn't just unfair, it's fundamentally wrong.

Many of you will remember the Sure Start centres of the early 2000s, they were a bold Labour initiative that brought together vital services for parents and young children under one roof. For many families, they were a lifeline. But under successive Conservative governments, the majority were shut down. And while the last government did reopen a small number as Family Hubs, only 75 local authorities benefited across the country. That piecemeal approach created deserts and places like Hertfordshire and Central Bedfordshire didn't see a single penny of investment.

But now that's changing. Labour is putting children and families at the heart of our mission to break down barriers to opportunity and give every child the best possible start in life. Breakfast clubs in every primary school, so no child starts the day hungry; a major expansion of childcare, with free, high-quality places for children aged 9 months to school age; and dedicated mental health support for young people in every school.

And now, our latest announcement, the launch of our new flagship scheme, the Best Start Family Hubs programme. By April 2026, every local authority, in every corner of our country will benefit from a Best Start Family Hub. These hubs will bring much-needed services together once more, offering everything from health visitors and parenting classes, to mental health support and early education advice. The postcode penalty has been wiped.

It's a simple idea, backed by evidence. Research has proven that children who grew up near a Sure Start centre had better outcomes at school, fewer hospital admissions, and higher future earnings. The impact lasts a lifetime!

We've got the families. We've got the need. Now we just need the political will to make it happen. I'm determined to make sure we aren't left behind again and to stick to that fundamental mission that we all share – to make our towns and villages the best place to grow up.