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September 2024

Welcome to your September newsletter!

There is a real back to school flavour to this month's newsletter, with a number of new courses available for both families and our workforce. While as adults, our school days may be over, it's never too late to learn new skills, or reflect about ourselves and how we could develop and grow as a person, parent or professional.

In this spirit, we are pleased to launch a new online library of courses called In Our Place, which is available for free to everyone in the Bradford District. There are courses for families at all stages, and also courses about relationships and emotional wellbeing aimed at adults (with or without children). Please browse the courses and try one yourself, or recommend to friends or family. 

There are also free bitesize workshops for families from Barnados, and courses for professionals from BHT and Community Infant Feeding.

As always, our monthly newsletter is packed with information for families and professionals about the wide range of free support for families funded by Family Hubs and Start for Life and other trusted Bradford District organisations. We also include the ever-popular links to our Family Hub timetables.

Please take a look and share the newsletter with anyone who might find it useful.

In Our Place – a new, free online place for families’ and people’s emotional wellbeing

‘In Our Place’ is a new online library of free, evidence-based courses for everyone in the Bradford District, including families with children of all ages, teenagers (courses they can follow independently), and adults.

These free courses are offered to help people better understand themselves and their family members, to support and help deal with family life, parenting, relationships, and emotional wellbeing.

The In Our Place online library consists of 17 separate courses, themed for different age groups and needs, from pregnancy, for families during the childhood and teenage years, through to adult life.

The courses are delivered online, ‘on demand’, through a combination of audio, video and text, so you can follow them in your own time and at your own pace. The courses are in short modules to fit easily around family life.

All the In Our Place courses are completely free for Bradford District residents. You can register for as many courses as you want. To access the courses for free, all you will need is your post code and the access code – BDPARENTS.

Where to find In Our Place

• You can find a link directly to the In Our Place courses from the new Parenting and family programmes page on the FYI (Families and Young Person’s Information) website.
  
  
• Professionals and practitioners - there is full background information about In Our Place on the FYI website in the practitioners’ section. In Our Place - Information for Practitioners.

Languages and access

Some of the courses are available translated into languages including Modern Standard Arabic, Polish and Urdu. The full library also supports auto-translation through Google Translate. Where digital access is a challenge, support including IT equipment, funded by Family Hubs and Start for Life, will be available in our district’s Family Hubs.

Find out more

In Our Place is a new addition to Bradford District’s support for families. The courses complement and enhance (but do not replace) existing support and programmes.

The In Our Place courses have been developed by Solihull Approach, a not-for-profit NHS service, with input from clinical psychologists, and commissioned by Bradford Children and Families Trust with funding provided by Family Hubs and Start for Life.

Please take a look and find out about the wide range of helpful and informative courses on offer from In Our Place.

Bradford 2025 - It Starts Here

Bradford 2025 UK City of Culture kicks off in January – and the Bradford 2025 team have just revealed the first events in the year-long programme.

Bradford 2025 will be a celebration of Bradford, its cultures and its people: young, diverse, proud of our heritage and focused on the future. “It could only happen here. And it could only happen now.”

You can see what’s being planned at What's on | Bradford 2025. There will be lots for children, young people and families and the majority of events will be free!

This is just the beginning – much more will be announced in the coming months.

If you want to keep in the loop and be among the first to hear what’s happening, you can sign up for the Bradford 2025 on their website. (Click on the ‘menu’ button and the sign-up form will pop up at the bottom of that page.)

The Bradford 2025 team say: “We can’t wait to see you next year.”

Jump Aboard - Family Hub sessions with an educational psychologist

The Educational Psychology Team’s family hub sessions offer the opportunity for families to talk through emerging concerns, and gain general advice and signposting about a range of Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) including:

• Learning
• Social, emotional and mental health (SEMH)
• Speech, language, and communication
• Neurodivergent needs such as ADHD and autism. 

The Jump Aboard Educational Psychology team can also provide information about the local SEND systems and processes in Bradford.

The sessions are listed on the Family Hub timetables for each area. They happen once per month in each area – so there are four sessions per month in total. You can go to any session that works for you timing wise – you don’t have to go to your nearest Family Hub.

The sessions coming up in October are:

• Rainbow Family Hub, Keighley - Wednesday, 2 October – (for session time please call the Family Hub)
• Barkerend Family Hub - Thursday, 3 October - 10am to 12 noon
• Reevy Hill Family Hub - Tuesday, 8 October, 12.30pm to 3pm (To book an appointment please call 01274 434940)
• Farcliffe, Family Hub - Thursday,  11 October  -10am to 2pm

Sessions are always listed on the Family Hub timetables – the latest timetables are available here: Family Hubs - latest timetables

Free outdoor stay and play with Early Years Alliance

Join Early Years Alliance for a new, free, outdoors stay and play session in Bradford on a Tuesday morning.

Parents, carers and their little ones will be able to play and learn outside, while exploring the space and opportunities that being outdoors brings.

You will need to come dressed for the weather - the session will run come rain or shine unless it isn't safe to do so.

Find the session at:

• Cafe West play space, Wanstead Crescent, Allerton, Bradford BD15 7PA
• On Tuesday mornings from 9.30 to 10.30 (Term time only)

This session is free and places are allocated on a first come, first served basis.

This fantastic new outdoor play session has been funded by our district's Family Hubs.

All the Family Hubs offer stay and play sessions (the usual format is indoors) - you can find all the sessions on the Family Hub timetables.

Maternity and baby circles in the Bradford District

Maternity circles and baby circles are a welcoming space from pregnancy through to having a baby, and then up until the child is age 2. Mums, dads and carers are welcome. 

Activities and format vary, but usually include:

• Meet other families with young children, and/or parents-to-be
• Play and activities
• Wellbeing support - a safe space where you can discuss questions or concerns
• Health advice
• Baby self-weigh
• Other support and services such as health visitor drop-in, midwife support, and other visiting advisors on various helpful topics

Some of our district's maternity and baby circles have recently been given a boost with extra funding from Family Hubs and Start for Life. There are also a number of other trusted providers working in communities to provide these popular sessions.

What's new and updated this month?

Take a look at these maternity and baby circles sessions for families: 

• Sangat Centre, Marlborough Street, Keighley, BD21 3HU - last Wednesday of the month, 9.30 to 11.00am (contact admin@khl.org.uk)
  
• Grange Interlink - Summerville Road, Bradford - every Tuesday, 9.30 to 11.30am (contact sarah.weatherley@family-action.org.uk) 
• Laisterdyke Centre - Manse Street, Bradford BD3 8RP - every Thursday, 9.30 to 11.30am (contact sarah.weatherley@family-action.org.uk)

Young parent and baby group There is a group - called T-natal - especially for young parents and their babies on Thursdays, 2pm to 4pm, at KHL, Scott Street, Keighley, BD21 2JH.  Meet other young parents around the same age Share experiences, tips and ideas Be part of a lovely group and make some new friends Receive information and support at any time This is a drop in session, no need to book. Also - every first Thursday of the month, a representative from Makin Dixon Family Law will be available to offer support and advice. For more information, please contact KHL Healthy Living on 01535 677177 or admin@khl.org.uk.

Find it on FYI

There is a list of maternity and baby circles on the FYI website's What's On directory - search for 'circle' for best results. You can also filter your search, for example you can search by postcode. Details for each session will give you more information about who is providing the session and what you can expect there. This link will take you straight to the maternity circles: Maternity and baby circles - FYI website.

Baby wellbeing events this autumn

If you’re based in or near Keighley, please come along to the FREE and convenient, baby health and wellbeing event at Airedale Shopping Centre, Keighley (opposite Vodaphone) on a number of new dates this autumn.

• Thursday 24 October, 9am to 1pm
• Thursday 14 November, 9am to 1pm

Provided by Modality Partnership and Bradford District and Craven Health and Care Partnership, with:

• Baby weighing station
• Childhood immunisations
• Walk-in MMR vaccines for children and adults
• Health and wellbeing advice and information
• Local services
• Pop-up maternity circles - meet other families

Please come along – we look forward to seeing you!

Barnardos Family Support - bitesize online courses and workshops

Barnados offer free online training on various topics to help families.

Workshops currently available to book:

• Child and family safety in the home
• Child and family safety outside the home
• Mini first aid
• Healthy smiles oral health 
• Starting solid food
• Asthma
• Potty training 
• Childhood illnesses and prevention

All the sessions are live, last 2 hours and various dates are available. You will need access to Zoom to join the sessions.

Please find out more from Barnados: Barnardos Family Support bitesize online courses and workshops.

Preparation for Parenthood - free antenatal course to help you get ready for your new baby - STILL TIME TO BOOK FOR NOVEMBER START

Are you or your partner pregnant, or do you know someone who is?

You can join this fantastic FREE 6-session programme from HENRY, to help you prepare for your new baby's arrival.

The next dates and times are:

• The Hive, Silsden (BD20 0DE) - Wednesday evenings, 6.30pm to 8.30pm, starting from 6 November
• Barkerend Family Hub (BD3 8QX) – Thursday mornings, 10.00am to 12.00 noon, starting from 7 November
• More online courses starting on 12 November and 13 January

You can attend any session depending which place, day or time works best for you.

You can attend at any point during your pregnancy. 

Your partner, or a friend or family member is encouraged to come along with you. 

The course includes:

• Information to help you feel more confident about having a healthy pregnancy, giving birth, bonding with your new baby, and caring for them.
• Practical, evidence-based information to support you as you prepare to become a parent.
• A great opportunity to meet other expectant parents and build friendships within your community.

This course has been funded by Family Hubs and Start for Life.

To find out more visit the HENRY programmes and workshops on FYI and scroll down to 'Preparation for Parenthood'.

Get Online Week - 14 to 20 October

Get Online Week is an annual, national campaign which helps promote access to digital information and resources for people who are excluded for any reason.

Things that many people take for granted, such as applying for a job, or managing your money online, can be more challenging for people who don't have access to the right digital equipment, Wi-Fi or data, or perhaps don't have the skills or confidence to go online.

Everyone deserves an equal opportunity to benefit from being online - and that free support is out there from lots of sources, including our district's Family Hubs.

• All of Bradford District's main Family Hubs offer free Wi-Fi while you are in the building - and many also have cosy seating pods and where you can sit comfortably while going online.
• To help with data access while at home, or out and about, our Family Hubs also offer free SIM cards loaded with data - please ask a member of staff at reception about this. 

There is lots of other support around the Bradford District. Look out for information from Bradford Council and other organisations during Get Online Week.  

Information and training
for professionals and practitioners

Working with parents: Supporting a 'language-rich' home learning environment - free sessions for practitioners

Parents are a child’s first and most important teacher and educator. BHT Early Education and Training have worked with hundreds of parents over the years to support the language development of their young children through play and other techniques in their home learning environment.

BHT would love to share with early years practitioners their expertise and techniques of how they work with parents to enable a home learning environment. The sessions cover:

• Why the home learning environment is important
• Partnership with parents
• What a 'language rich' home learning environment looks like
• What children learn through play and interactions with their parents
• Barriers for both parents and practitioners and how we can overcome them
• What parents can do at home
• Further help, advice and support

There are three FREE online learning sessions coming up that can booked onto via Eventbrite:

• Friday, 25 October 10:00 to 11:30am
• Wednesday, 20 November 2:00 to 3:30pm
• Tuesday, 10 December 6:00 to 7:30pm

Simply go to the BHT Early Education and Training Eventbrite page and choose the event you want: BHT Eventbrite Page

There is also helpful information about speech and language for familes and professionals on the FYI website - please visit Talking Bradford - Speech and Language pathway for parents and Talking Bradford - Speech and Language Pathway for Early Years.

Free speech and language training for professionals in a Family Hub or similar setting

If you work with children in any of the following settings:

• Family Hub
• Early Help
• Children's Social Care
• 0-19 health professional
• Creche/play development worker
• Adult and family learning
• Family engagement
• Children's librarian

Speech and Language UK are providing three free workshops just for you.

Written and delivered by their experienced Speech and Language Therapists, these workshops are packed full of up-to-date information and helpful practical strategies to support speech and language skills in the early years.

Find out more on FYI: Speech and Language Workshops for Practitioners.

There is also helpful information about speech and language for families and professionals with the Talking Bradford information om the FYI website - please visit Talking Bradford - Speech and Language pathway for parents and Talking Bradford - Speech and Language Pathway for Early Years.

Feeding Bradford District's babies - free training for colleagues working with families

Everyone can play their part in supporting breastfeeding mums.

Local organisations and colleagues who work with families have an important role to play. To find out more please join this two and a half hour training to understand:

• Why human milk needs to be a priority for human babies
• How you can support and enable women to breastfeed their babies for as long as they wish
• The barriers to breastfeeding in society and how you can help to remove them.

Please note, the session follows UNICEF Baby Friendly standards but does not cover physiology or how to breastfeed.

Sessions coming up include:

Rainbow Family Hub, Keighley

• Thursday 31 October, 9.30am – 12.00pm

Barkerend Family Hub, Bradford 

• Thursday 24 October, 1.30pm – 4.00pm
• Tuesday 29 October, 9.30am – 12.00pm
• Tuesday 10 December, 9.30am – 12.00pm

For details of our latest training sessions and how to book: Feeding Bradford’s Babies training - BDCT

If you would like a session tailored specifically for your staff team or details of other training, please contact the Breastfeeding Lead by email: jane.dickens@bdct.nhs.uk

Family Hubs and Start for Life
useful information and contacts

Latest Family Hub timetables - September

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 Keighley/Shipley FYI - Families and Young Person's Information

What's on guide - on FYI

The FYI (Families and Young Person's Information) website has a What's On guide, which is kept up-to-date with events around the district for families, children and young people.

There are various filters to help you search, including by date, post code, age group and event category.

You can also search by 'key word' to find what you are interested in - just use the 'Search' function while you are on the What's On page. 

Take a look and find out what's happening near you!

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.

Stay subscribed to make sure you don't miss out on any future updates! 

If you have been sent this email by someone else, you can sign up for future emails here: