Physical presence is just as important as digital services in establishing the reliability and manifesting the resilience of social infrastructure. A Service Hub in every outward postcode will make this real.
Service Hubs are physical locations that are open and staffed at least during daylight hours in the week. Hopefully many will achieve much greater accessibility. They provide a place where residents can find out about the services in their area, about opportunities to participate in decision-making, get assistance with their Digital ID, and connect to social, educational, health, and care sign postings.
Ideally, Service Hubs will become a ‘one-stop shop’ for residents to find what they need to flourish in their community. In some cases, they will be co-located with a Skills Centre and a Community Food Centre, providing a central point in every postcode that connects all aspects of local life.
Advice will be available through two channels: DWP, and a citizen support desk (staffed by CAB or other local service).
Service Hubs will take over the benefit administration and advice functions from Jobcentres as those transition into Skills Centres. Current Jobcentre advisors who choose to continue providing benefits advice will move into Service Hubs.
Starting from Year 1, grants are provided to councils to establish a Service Hub in every outward postcode. In the majority of situations, this will mean expanding the role of existing facilities to support their local community, such a library or sports centre. The budget includes funding for 3,000 Service Hubs using an annual average operating budget of £275,000 per Service Hub, reaching £0.8 billion a year at steady state. It will take time to build up the network, and so the budget assumes 300 in the first year and then up to 700 a year added until complete.