Shah and colleagues write: “Family hubs aim to integrate and improve services within local authority areas . . . although the exact framework for implementation is still unclear.”1 An elusive ambiguity runs right through the policy. “Family hubs sit at the heart of other physical and virtual services delivered in the community, in people’s homes and in other locations such as GP surgeries and libraries.”2Any parents looking for somewhere to meet others like themselves will not find them in a hub, which is essentially a gateway to specific interventions for families with problems. By contrast, before 40% of centres were closed, Sure Start was a neighbourhood family resource for everyone with under 5s, offering skilled help if needed.3 Outcomes for family hubs are not yet available, but there are years of rigorous and encouraging research on Sure Start, now largely ignored.45The latest data, from the Institute for Fiscal Studies, show…
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