Family Hubs and Start for Life - June 2023 newsletter

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June 2023

Family Hubs welcome families across the Bradford District

During the most recent half term (from 30 May to 2 June), four of our district’s Family Hubs threw open their doors, at a series of events to welcome local families and showcase the facilities.

There were play activities, crafts and games, story and rhyme time, football with Bookstart Bear, and a chance to meet staff and get a taste of the services that are regularly timetabled for families at the Family Hubs.

Over 400 people joined us at the events at Barkerend, the TFD Centre (in the heart of Holmewood), Farcliffe (Toller) and Rainbow (Keighley). Children of all ages, from babies to teenagers, came along and there was something for everyone to do.  

The events were organised by our Family Hubs and Start for Life programme, working together with the Family Hubs in each area. Also joining us at the events, to meet families and provide activities, were many of the local services and organisations that help children learn and keep healthy while also having lots of fun.

We had great feedback from the families who joined us. Maybe you were there!

What is Family Hubs and Start for Life?

Family Hubs and Start for Life brings together the support available to families with children and young people across the Bradford district.

Family Hubs

Family Hubs are our network of support for families. They provide access to health services, parenting support, activities with younger children, youth support, specialist support including for SEND, and other services.

• Come along in person. You can come along to our Family Hubs around the district to attend appointments, meet with staff for a chat, or take part in groups, courses or activities.
• Visit main hubs and support sites. As well as the main hubs, some services are available from other places around the district including schools, nurseries, and community centres, all linked to a main Family Hub area.
• It's online too. The Family Hubs network also includes online advice, information and courses, and other support from organisations that help with family life.

Family Hubs support families from the start of their parenting journey during pregnancy, and families with babies, children and young people up to the age of 19 (or 24 if the young person has special educational needs and/or disabilities).

Start for Life

Start for Life provides extra support to families to improve children’s lives, especially during the first 1,001 days of a child’s life, from the beginning of pregnancy until the child is 2.

Thanks to the Start for Life funding we will be able to increase the support for families over the next two years, working with organisations across the district. 

Extra help through Start for Life will include support for:

• Mental wellbeing before and after your baby is born
• Helping you build a good relationship with your baby
• Supporting you to get through everyday parenting challenges
• Helping you with feeding your baby
• The first stages of learning to talk and other important childhood skills
• Involving families in decisions about services
• Making information easier to find

Little Minds Matter – now available across Bradford District

Did you know - the first 1,001 days of a baby's life (from conception to 2 years old) are a crucial time because a baby’s brain is developing at a super speedy rate, making lots of connections?

Little Minds Matter helps babies get the best possible start in life – and the great news is they have recently expanded their service to cover the whole of the Bradford District, so more families will be able to benefit from their support. The expanded service is being funded through our Family Hubs and Start for Life programme.

Little Minds Matter offers therapy and support to families, and training to professionals, across many factors that can affect an infant’s mental health – how you play with your baby, your relationship with them, even your confidence as a parent. 

Little Minds Matter is one of the many services listed on the FYI (Families and Young Person’s Information) website. Click on the links to find out more.

Mental Health and Well-Being in Pregnancy

Mental Health and Well-Being after giving birth

Getting to know your baby

Armed Forces Week - 19 to 24 June It's Armed Forces Week and we’re taking this opportunity to show our support for people in the armed forces community, whether serving troops, veterans or cadets – and of course their families. On Saturday 24 June, Armed Forces Day, come into Bradford for the annual Drumhead Service and Armed Forces’ Day event at Norfolk Gardens Park, City Park from 11.00 am. Everyone is welcome.    The Bradford District will also pay tribute to the courage and bravery of our armed forces by raising the armed forces flag at flag at Centenary Square, Bradford.   There is information and support for the armed forces community on our FYI website - click below to find out more.

Refugee Week It’s Refugee Week this week (17 to 25 June). There are two family events happening on Wednesday this week to welcome refugee families. Please come along, or share with families or friends who might find this helpful. Refugee Family Event - Mayfield Centre Wednesday 21 June - 10:00am to 11:30am Welcoming all refugee families with children under 5 years old Mayfield Centre, Broadway Avenue, Bradford, BD5 9NP Laisterdyke Family Fun Event Wednesday 21 June - 10:00am to 12:00noon For refugees and asylum seekers in the Laisterdyke area, this is the perfect opportunity to find out about the events that happen at your local community hub. There will be fun activities, the opportunity to meet local organisations and other people. Laisterdyke Hub, Manse St, Bradford, BD3 8RP There’s also a whole programme of events for Refugee Week, including a Family Fun Day and celebration of Ukrainian History in the Bradford District – both happening on Sunday 25 June. Find out more on the Bradford for Everyone website:

Part time job opportunity - Perinatal Peer Supporter 

• Do you have experience of being a new parent?
• Are you a great listener who is skilled at connecting with others?
• Would you like to grow in a role where you can use your own experience to support new and expectant mums?

If so, Better Start Bradford would like to hear from you.

The Family Action Perinatal Support Service offers one to one peer support for women who are experiencing mild to moderate mental health issues pre- and post-birth. 

As a Peer Supporter, you will work with new and expectant mums to improve maternal mental health and emotional wellbeing, whilst helping parents to be more emotionally available for their babies.

The role is part time for 29.6 hours per week and pay starts at £20,579 pro rata. It's temporary until April 2025 and four posts are available. The closing date for applications is Monday, 3 July 2023 at 9am.

Find out more:

Our Family Hubs around the district

Follow us on Facebook You can follow the FYI service and all the Family Hubs on Facebook: Bradford East  Bradford West Bradford South Shipley/Keighley FYI - Families and Young People's Information

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You have received this email from Family Hubs and Start for Life because you previously subscribed to receive Family Hub Information from one or more of our Family Hubs: Keighley and Shipley, Bradford East, Bradford South and Bradford West.

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