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February 2024

Welcome to our February newsletter

February may be the shortest month (even in a leap year!) but we still have another information-packed newsletter for you.

Our top story this month is the high-profile visit of Health Minister Andrea Leadsom to Farcliffe Family Hub. We were so proud to welcome her and show her around. Minister Leadsom spent over 2 hours talking to families and professionals and shared news of the visit on her own website. Thank you to everyone who made the visit such a success. 

In this issue of our newsletter we have some fantastic information for families, including news about a baby wellbeing event in Keighley; free play and learn sessions across the district; and more opportunities to get support for your child's sleep from the Together Trust.

There is a quick survey for you to complete - and if you enjoy getting involved in research you can take part in a district-wide food survey. 

Practitioners and professionals - please make sure you scroll to the end of this issue as we have some fantastic opportunities for you, including free sleep training courses to help you support families facing this challenge.

Also for our district-wide workforce, we are sharing some brilliant free training from Speech and Language UK, with 3 courses ranging from an introduction to communication skills in the early years, to an in-depth look at complex speech and language challenges. Full information about this is also on FYI. 

Health Minister praises 'amazing progress' at Bradford District’s Family Hubs

At the beginning of February, the Family Hubs and Start for Life programme welcomed Health Minister Andrea Leadsom to Farcliffe Family Hub.

The minister, who oversees public health, Start for Life and primary care across the country, met our district’s Family Hubs and Start for Life workforce. She also heard from families about their experiences of the facilities and services available at Family Hubs and through our Family Hub network.

Health Minister Andrea Leadsom said: “I’ve loved hearing the incredible feedback from parents and carers at the Family Hub. It was heartwarming to see the amazing progress since my last visit in Bradford in 2022. I’ve been really impressed to meet so many dedicated workforce and volunteers. Our Family Hubs and Start for Life investment is already making a difference and the fact that Bradford has been committed to the programme from the beginning really shines through.”

Through government funding, the Family Hubs and Start for Life programme has increased the availability of some of the services that make the most difference to families, especially during the time from the start of pregnancy to the child’s second birthday. 

You can find out more about Family Hubs and Start for Life, and the services available, on the FYI (Families and Young Person’s Information) website. The FYI website has a range of accessibility tools including dyslexia-friendly fonts and can be translated into over 130 languages.

A very big thank you to all the families, colleagues and partnership organisations who came along and made the visit a great success!

You can read the full 'press release' on Bradford Council's website. See press release.

The collage above this article shows photos from Andrea Leadsom's visit to Farcliffe Family Hub. Main picture, from left to right: Dr Sara Ahern, Programme Manager, Better Start Bradford Innovation Hub, Born in Bradford; Rachael Burdin, Project Manager, Family Hubs and Start for Life; Health Minister Andrea Leadsom; Lisa Brett, Head of Service, Prevention and Early Help, Bradford Children and Families Trust.

Parents, carers and families - last chance to have your say and win £100

Your views matter!  We have two surveys - please take part in the survey that best fits your family. You could win £100!

Survey - families during pregnancy or who have a child age up to 2

• Are you a parent or carer of a child aged 0 to 2, or are you or your partner currently expecting a baby?
• Have you accessed any of the Bradford District’s Family Hubs parental support services?
• Please use this link to take part in the survey with a chance to win £100.
• Survey - pregnancy or child under 2 

Survey - families with children all ages

• Do you have a child or children aged 0-19 (25 with SEND)?
• Have you used any service at a Family Hub?
• Please use this link to take part in the survey with a chance to win £100.
• Survey - children all ages

Last chance! Both surveys are open until 3 March 2024.

Surveys are anonymous and confidential. If you have a question about the survey or research, please email: UK-PA-TF2Evaluation@ipsosresearch.com

Thank you in advance for taking part.

Free play and learn across the district

The Early Years Alliance runs play and learn sessions each week that offer families a chance to learn and explore while having fun. These sessions are completely free for families to attend. 

Sessions are happening at lots of locations around different parts of Bradford. There are also sessions in the wider district including in Keighley, Denholme and Shipley.

The full list of locations, times and days is here: Play and Learn - early years alliance. 

Sessions are also included on the Family Hub timetables on FYI. 

These sessions receive funding so that families can attend for free. Some of the sessions currently taking place in each Family Hub area have been funded by Family Hubs and Start for Life.

Community based toddler groups in the Bradford area

Early Years Alliance have also compiled a list of community-based baby and toddler groups that run across the district on their Toddler Groups page. Please note these sessions may not be free - you will need to check all details with the organisers directly. 

You can find out more here: Toddler groups (Bradford area) (eyalliance.org.uk).

Drop-in advice and support at the Airedale Shopping Centre, Keighley

• Are your children’s vaccinations up to date?
• Do you need any support with your new baby?
• Are you worried about your new arrival?

Local GP surgeries are partnering with maternity and baby circles to provide a hub for drop-in advice and support for parents, carers and parents-to-be, and their babies and children, on a monthly basis in the Airedale Shopping Centre, Keighley.

The next event is on:

• Thursday, 7 March
• From 9am to 1pm
• Airedale Shopping Centre, Keighley

Come along for:

• Health advice and help with immunisations.
• The maternity circle will be providing information in pregnancy.
• Support for maternal health, mum and family wellbeing ,and baby wellbeing
• Baby weighing will be available.
• The AWC Modality nursing team will be there to offer advice on getting childhood immunisation up to date, and can advise on any concerns.

It’s a walk-in hub – so no need to book in advance. Just come along and the team will be happy to help! We hope to see you there. 

Measles outbreak and how to avoid serious illness

The United Kingdom Health Security Agency (UKHSA) has declared a national incident following measles outbreaks around the country, including in Yorkshire.

The best protection against measles for children and adults is to get both doses of the MMR vaccine. https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/vaccinations/mmr-vaccine/ 

The vaccine has few side effects and once you have had two doses of the vaccine you don’t need any further vaccinations.

Measles is a highly infectious, serious illness that can be very unpleasant. Those most at risk are babies/toddlers under one, people who are unvaccinated or immuno-compromised, and pregnant woman. There is no specific treatment available, so it is important to get vaccinated to avoid serious illness.

If you have been vaccinated, it’s very unlikely you will catch measles.

What are the symptoms of measles?

• Usually starts with cold-like symptoms
• High fever
• Sore red watery eyes
• Cough and/or runny nose
• Small red spots with bluish-white centres inside the mouth
• A red/brown blotchy rash which appears several days later, rough to the touch.

If a child becomes infected, they should stay away from school for at least 4 days from when the rash first appeared and until they are completely recovered.

Anyone infected should stay away from babies, anyone who is pregnant and those with a weakened immune system.

‘THINK’ measles

If you think your child has measles or has been in contact in the last 3 weeks with someone with a confirmed case of measles, then please stay at home and call your GP surgery.

• DO NOT take your child to school or nursery.
• DO NOT visit the GP surgery, out of hours surgery, or hospital.  
• CALL ahead to the GP surgery so measures can be put in place for your arrival.

Children in school who are suspected of having measles will be isolated and parents will be asked to collect promptly.

Bradford Food Survey - take part and receive a £15 gift card as a thank you

Do you have a child aged 3-11 and live in Bradford District? We would like to invite you to take part in a Born in Bradford (ActEarly) and Living Well online children’s food survey. 

What will I have to do?

The study involves keeping a record of all the food and drink your child has eaten in a day. This will be done online, on 4 different days, and takes about 15 minutes per day.

Why should I take part?

You will receive a £15 gift card for completing your child’s food diaries and you will be generating local evidence which will be used to improve the diets of children in Bradford district.

If you would like to find out more about the study or see if you are eligible visit https://redcap.link/4ynrtcaj, email BradfordFoodSurvey@bthft.nhs.uk, or contact Lisa Dowling 07890 418278. 

Chat Health - instant support for feeding your baby

It’s now easier than ever to get advice from the friendly Community Infant Feeding team – just text your question or concern to 07312 263233 and get a response within working hours.

The Breastfeeding Chat Health service connects you to:

• confidential NHS advice via text
• answers to your breastfeeding questions or concerns
• details of your nearest support group or clinic

Find out more: Chat Health - Community Infant Feeding team.

Or to go straight to the service just text 07312 263233.

Breastfeeding support volunteers - opportunity

An exciting opportunity for those of you with personal breastfeeding experience and time to volunteer.

Recruitment is underway in our district for breastfeeding peer supporters to join the Community Infant Feeding Team.

To find out more and apply please click here Breastfeeding Peer Support Volunteer (Community) | Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust Volunteering.

Help your child get a better night's sleep - new dates available!

The Together Trust charity is offering free support to help families with a child aged 2 to 11 who has sleep difficulties. 

The sessions are for parents/carers to attend. The sessions are free. Some sessions are drop-in while for others you must book your place.

Together Trust will provide advice, information and practical approaches to help your child improve their sleep.

All sessions are open to families across the Bradford District and Craven.

Sessions and workshops are available as follows:

Sleep session drop-in - in person - 2 hours

This 2-hour session will include a presentation from a qualified practitioner, covering tips and strategies for sleep, and a chance to ask questions.

• Drop-in session, no need to book.
• Tuesday, 19 March
• 9.30 am to 11.30am
• Wyke Community Children’s Centre, BD12 8AA
• Open to families across the Bradford District and Craven. 

Sleep workshop - in person - 4.5 hours

This 4.5 hour session will take a more detailed approach, looking at sleep science, routines and diaries, and will include an opportunity to create your own sleep plan for your child. 

• Wednesday, 6 March
• 10am to 2.30pm
• Bradford East Family Hub, 365 Barkerend Road, Bradford, BD3 8QX
• Open to families across the Bradford District and Craven. 
• Please bring your own lunch. 

To book a place at the sleep workshop, please email admintss@togethertrust.org.uk, and include:

• Your full name
• Session and date
• Contact telephone number (if you are requesting a telephone sleep chat). 

These sessions are also on the relevant Family Hub timetables (March timetable Bradford East and March timetable Bradford South).

Together Trust - sleep training for professionals 

Two 'Sleep training' courses are available from the Together Trust charity, for professionals in the Bradford District and Craven, to help you advise and support families. 

All training sessions are free, but must be booked in advance.

Face-to-face course - one day

This face-to-face course will include an introduction to sleep science and sleep disorders, and will provide advice on creating a good sleep environment and other strategies to support good sleep.

The course will be held at CNET Enterprise Hub, Bradford.

Dates and times available:

• Wednesday, 20 March - 10am to 3pm
• Wednesday, 24 April - 10am to 3pm

Please bring your own lunch. Tea and coffee will be provided. 

Face-to-face course - two day

This course is more in-depth than the one-day course. It will include sleep training methods, problem solving, sleep assessments, and how to write a sleep plan, with case studies to provide examples. 

You must attend both days. The course will be held at CNET Enterprise Hub, Bradford.

Dates and times available:

• Wednesday, 13 and Thursday, 14 March - 10am to 3pm
• Wednesday, 15 and Thursday, 16 May - 10am to 3pm

Book your place

To book a place or find out more, please email SleepTraining@togethertrust.org.uk, and include:

• Your full name
• Job title
• Preferred session and date

Do you work in a Family Hub or a similar setting?

Speech and Language Workshops for Practitioners

Latest Family Hub timetables - March

Our Family Hub area timetables show the sessions and activities that are taking place for families in the coming month.

Some sessions will need booking in advance - please contact your Family Hub if you would like to book a place.

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 Person's Information

Why have I received this email?

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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