A NETWORK of children's centres offering Hampshire parents a range of support and advice is set to expand following a cash injection of more than £90m.
The government said it expected local councils to use the money to give every child "the very best possible start in life".
The Sure Start children's centres are designed to give all parents and their children a place to go and a one-stop shop for support and advice - from maternity checks to childcare to advice on getting back to work.
The government has pledged that there will be a Sure Start children's centre for every community by 2010.
Hampshire County Council will receive a total of £64m for Sure Start between 2008/9 and 2010/11.
Southampton City Council will receive £18m and the Isle of Wight £8m.
Some of the money will be targeted at the most disadvantaged areas to enable children's centres to employ extra outreach workers to visit parents in their own homes and encourage them to take advantage of the parenting support and other services on offer through centres.
The investment will also pay for training and support for crèche workers and ensuring there are enough childcare places to allow parents to go back to work or into training.
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