"Next year Russia will launch a pilot project to establish multifunctional family centres," Deputy Minister of Labour and Social Protection Olga Batalina said at a meeting of United Russia's commission for the protection of motherhood and childhood and support for families. She explained that families with children would be able to obtain the assistance they need at these centres. They will include family reception offices, mobile outreach teams and local social services. The centres will also organise various parents' associations, clubs and mutual-support groups. "The pilot will begin in June in five major Russian cities: Novosibirsk, Irkutsk, Chelyabinsk, Novgorod and Tula. Its results will be used to develop standards for a multifunctional family centre," Batalina explained. Unified guidance for all regions will be available by December, she said. From 2023, the centres will operate throughout the country. RUB 30 million has been allocated to the pilot project.