Source · Select Committees · Health and Social Care Committee
Recommendation 4
4
Accepted
Explore using family hubs to educate young people and parents about body image and self-worth.
Recommendation
We call on the Government to better equip future generations and their families with the skills and resources required to tackle body image issues. These skills and resources include critical thinking, particularly when it comes to appraising images, and self- worth. We recommend that the Government explores the use of family hubs as a route to educate parents and young people about body image, self-worth, and body positivity. (Paragraph 45) 34 The impact of body image on mental and physical health
Government Response Summary
The government committed to improving families' access to resources for body image issues through the £301.75 million rollout of Family Hubs in half of local authorities across England. These hubs will provide guidance on mental health and emotional wellbeing support, connecting families to resources like the Every Mind Matters website and offering advice on nutrition.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
The government remains committed to helping improve families’ access to resources that support them to tackle body image issues. Family hubs are a way of joining up locally to: improve access to services reinforce the connections between families, professionals, services, and providers prioritise strengthening the relationships that carry us all through life They bring together services for children of all ages, with a great Start for Life offer at their core. At the Autumn Budget and Spending Review 2021 , the Chancellor announced a £301.75 million package to transform services for parents, carers, babies and children in half of local authorities across England. This includes funding for a network of family hubs. We have published guidance for local authorities on the services we expect family hubs to offer , which includes supporting families to access mental health and emotional wellbeing support. This could include, for example, connecting parents and young people to online self-help materials such as the Every Mind Matters website, which addresses poor body image and low self-esteem. We also expect hubs to connect parents and young people to advice on nutrition and weight management, where appropriate, and for staff in the hub to be able to talk about healthier weight in an informed and sensitive way.