Stuart Anderson MP has stepped up his campaign to support more than 700 young families in South Shropshire, having called for better childcare support - including equal access to family hubs in rural areas.
- Stuart Anderson MP is campaigning for fair access to family support services.
- Stuart met the Association of Indoor Play after visiting Anchors Away in Cleobury Mortimer.
- Stuart is “greatly disappointed” that only 48 out of 675 Family Hubs are in rural areas.
- Stuart has said it worsens existing disparities in support for young families.
Stuart Anderson MP said:
“I was delighted to meet with the Association of Indoor Play, which represents indoor play centres like Anchors Away in Cleobury Mortimer. The sector is calling for meaningful business rates relief and a reduction in VAT on children’s admissions due to rising operating costs. I am greatly disappointed that South Shropshire has also missed out on funding for school-based nurseries and only 48 out of 675 government-funded family hubs are in rural areas like ours. This only worsens existing disparities in support for young people in such areas. The government claims that its support for families has helped them to save £8,000 a year. However, I am worried that the benefits of this funding are not being equally felt across the country. It means that hundreds of young families in areas like South Shropshire are being left behind by urban areas that receive much more investment. I have called for better childcare support – including equal access to family hubs – in rural areas like ours."
Stuart Anderson MP is greatly disappointed that only 48 out of 675 government-funded family hubs are located in rural areas. This is despite the initiative being promoted as a key part of the government’s support for young families, which it claims has helped families to save an average of £8,000 a year. However, Stuart is worried that the benefits of the funding are not being felt in rural areas like South Shropshire that is home to more than 700 young families.
While Shropshire Council did not receive funding for the initial rollout, it has developed a network of Family Hubs which offer early support to local families. This includes two hubs in South Shropshire that operate without government funding. In July 2025, the government announced that every local authority would receive a Best Start Family Hub by April 2026 as part of its Child Development Strategy. However, evidence has shown that the rollout has been uneven.
Last year, Stuart urged Education Ministers to ensure that rural areas - like South Shropshire - are supported. In October 2025, Shropshire was then granted £152.417. The grant is being used to develop seven hubs across Shropshire. This includes a Family Hub in Ludlow, which is its first and most successful to date. Shropshire Council has also developed ‘Best Start in Life’ webpages to provide families with information and signposting to support.
However, data obtained by Stuart has revealed that only 48 out of 675 government-funded family hubs are in rural areas like South Shropshire. It has also been revealed that South Shropshire has again missed out on funding for school-based nurseries. Capital grant funding allocations, published on 22nd March 2026, revealed that over 300 hundred schools will be supported to open or expanded nurseries. However, this does not include any schools in South Shropshire.
In Parliament, Stuart has additionally attended an event hosted by the Association of Indoor Play (AIP), which represents indoor play centres across the UK - including Anchors Away in Cleobury Mortimer, which Stuart visited earlier in the year. Stuart said that indoor play centers like Anchors Away in Cleobury Mortimer positively support children’s physical and mental health and act as vital community hubs for families in rural areas like South Shropshire. He is supporting the Association, which has called for meaningful business rates relief and a reduction in VAT on children’s admissions due to rising operating costs that are affecting the sector.
