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November 2024

Welcome to your November newsletter!

Keeping in touch with families, and understanding what matters to you, is incredibly important to the Family Hubs Start for Life programme. Hearing from families helps us and other organisations we work with make decisions about what services to fund, and understand what will make the biggest difference to families in our district, to give your children the best start in life.

With this in mind, if you are pregnant or have a child aged 2 or under, we would be very grateful if you could please fill in our parent and carer survey following the links below. You could win £100!

November has been a busy month, and an absolute highlight has been Baby Week Bradford. Perhaps you took part! Read up on how we got involved in the article below. 

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 links to our Family Hub timetables and other pages on the FYI website, where this is all listed.

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

Have your say and win £100!

Are you a parent or carer of a 0 to 2 year old, or are you (or your partner) currently expecting?

Are you receiving (or have you received) parenting support through the Family Hub or Start for Life services?

If yes, we want to hear from you!

Please tell us about your views and experiences of the Family Hubs’ support services, so we can learn what helps and what could be better for families like yours.

If you take part, you could win £100!

Your feedback will contribute to national research and help services be improved for families.

The survey link is here: Parent/carer survey 

Happy times on the Wiggle Bus for Baby Week Bradford

Hundreds of Bradford districts children, parents and carers hopped on board the Baby Week Bradford 'Wiggle Room Play Bus' when it was hosted by our district's Family Hubs during Baby Week Bradford, from 14 to 20 November.

And while the play bus parked up at Farcliffe, Barkerend, and TFD Family Hubs, and Cliffe Castle (for Keighley Shipley), some of the hubs also put on additional play activities, and/or hosted a free shuttle bus to transport families to Baby Week's other events at City Library and Sedbergh Leisure Centre.

The theme for this year’s Baby Week was ‘playful starts and happy hearts’, emphasising the importance of play for learning, bonding and fun during the earliest stages of a child’s life. It is fair to say there was plenty of fun being had on the play bus, with ball pool, slides, and lots more to entertain children aged up to three. 

Attendance figures were high - overall figures show that around 480 children and parents/carers took part in the Family Hubs’ four events, with 365 of these getting on board the Wiggle Room Play Bus.

There was excellent feedback from families and professionals. One local partnership manager said, about the Farcliffe event:

“I wanted to say how wonderful it was to see just how many of your families came out for the event and how appreciative they were of the family hub for putting it on. I had some lovely verbal feedback from parents on how much their children had enjoyed the activities. Your team were so lovely and created a great atmosphere for the parents and children. You should all be really proud.”

Baby Week Bradford was delivered in partnership, coordinated by Better Start Bradford and a steering group made up of partner organisations. The Wiggle Room Play Bus and shuttle bus were funded by the Family Hubs and Start for Life programme and our Family Hubs teams welcomed families to their events and ensured that they were a success.

We would like to say a big thank you to all our colleagues and partners involved in making these events such a success!

Jump Aboard - now available as appointments across our Family Hubs

Jump Aboard offers parents and carers general advice to help with concerns about their child’s learning or development.

These sessions, with the Educational Psychology Team, are held at least monthly across all four Family Hub areas. 

The format of the session has recently been changed, from drop-in sessions, to appointment only. This is to make sure that families are allocated enough time for their conversation, and that this can be conducted in full privacy.

At these sessions, parents and carers can: 

• Talk through your concerns and get general advice and suggestions for what is available locally to help you support your child.
• Ask about special educational needs and disabilities (SEND); social, emotional and mental health (SEMH); speech, language and communication; and neurodivergent needs such as ADHD and autism.
• Get information about SEND systems and processes in the Bradford District.

These Family Hub sessions with the Educational Psychology Team are free to parents and carers, funded by Family Hubs and Start for Life.

The sessions are for parents/carers of children and young people aged up to 16. They are not suitable young people aged 16 or over - please speak to your school or find advice on the Local Offer website if this applies to you. 

Sessions are being at least once per month at Rainbow Family Hub, Farcliffe Family Hub, Barkerend Family Hub and Reevy Hill Family Hub.

Dates and times are on the Family Hub timetables at fyi.bradford.gov.uk.

Please phone the Family Hub to book your session - all contact numbers are on fyi.bradford.gov.uk. 

Becoming a new family - free workshop for parents and carers

Top tips for adjusting to life as a new parent

Becoming a new family brings exciting changes, but adjusting to a new routine while getting to know your baby takes time.

This FREE, 2 hour workshop offers the support and tools you need to navigate this new chapter with confidence.

We'll cover topics like:

• recognising emotions: understand the range of emotions that come with becoming a new parent and how to manage them
• building healthy habits: explore ways to maintain balance in relationships, emotional health and physical health
• caring for yourself and baby: learn how to prioritise both your baby's needs and your own well-being as you adjust to family life

Helping you navigate parenthood with ease:

• explore the changes: learn about the common adjustments in daily life, relationships and identity that come with parenthood
• build confidence: gain strategies for managing emotions and navigating the unexpected challenges of becoming a family
• connect with others: share experiences with other new parents and form a supportive network as you begin your journey

One parent from the ‘Becoming a new family’ workshop said:

"I've been much more relaxed about my parenting and the workshop helped me to learn to have some time for myself, simple things to relax a bit. It was like a guide for us for everything."

Who can attend?

Anyone with a new baby is welcome!

No matter your parenting role or previous experience, we encourage you to join with your partner, friends or family members for support.

When is it and how do I book?

The next available sessions are:

• Monday, 16 December 2024, 6.45pm to 8.45pm, online 
• January 2025 (exact date TBC). Reevy Hill Family Hub, BD6

Book a place or register interest on the FYI website: HENRY programmes and workshops or call 01274 008617. 

Dad Matters comes to Bradford District

Dad Matters Bradford is a new service that supports new dads and dads-to-be to have the best possible relationships with their families.

If you are a new or expectant dad, Dad Matters can support you during pregnancy and right up until baby is two years old.

Whatever your worries, stress or anxiety, Dad Matters is for you.

To get support for yourself, or to refer a family you just need to complete a short online form and the Dad Matters Team will be in touch. More details and links to the form is with the information for dads on FYI:

• I'm a dad (during pregnancy)
• I'm a dad (birth to 2 years)

If you prefer to give them a call you can ring 01274 666711.

Dad Matters Bradford is provided by Home Start Bradford, funded by the Family Hubs and Start for Life programme.

There is further background information here: Dad Matters Bradford.

In Our Place - antenatal courses!

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

This month we are spotlighting the courses available for during pregnancy. 

There are 2 courses available for during pregnancy, and different languages are available.

Understanding pregnancy, labour, birth and your baby

This course is for all parents, grandparents and carers expecting to welcome a new baby. The course has been designed to include all the practical information and advice you might expect from a traditional antenatal class. The course also includes support around emotional and mental wellbeing for you and your baby.

The course can be followed as well as in-person classes such as Baby Steps or Preparation for Parenthood, or in place of these if you’re unable to attend the group or prefer an online course to follow in your own time.

The course consists of 9 short modules to follow online. As well as English, this course is available in Arabic, Polish, Urdu and Welsh. The course also supports Google translate into around 200 other languages.

This course also includes specialist material for fathers and fathers-to-be. 

You can watch a video about the course here: Understanding pregnancy, labour, birth and your baby

Understanding pregnancy, labour, birth and your baby: for women couples

This course is the same as the 'Understanding pregnancy, labour, birth and your baby' course, however, instead of a section for fathers there is a section about your role as a partner. There is more information about this course here: Understanding pregnancy, labour, birth and your baby: for women couples.

The course supports Google translate into around 200 other languages.

More about In Our Place

In Our Place free courses are designed to help you better understand yourself and your family members, providing useful tips and information, to help you deal with children and family life, parenting, relationships, and your own emotional wellbeing.

There are 17 courses, all 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. Different language options are available, and the system also supports Google Translate.

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.

Be sure to follow the In Our Place button link to access the courses.  If you would like to talk to a professional, or prefer in person advice and support, you can also get in touch with our district’s Family Hubs.

Seasonal festivities this December

December is always a great excuse for sparking family fun. Our Family Hubs have created some seasonal activities and events across the district to get everyone in the festive spirit. Please check with the Family Hubs before attending, as for some events you will need to book your place(s). 

Some of the highlights include:

• Adult Christmas Crafts - Reevy Hill Family Hub - Monday, 16 December - 1pm to 3pm (booking required)
• Family Christmas Activity Session - Reevy Hill Family Hub - Monday, 23 December - 1pm to 3pm (booking required)
• New Year Party - Reevy Hill Family Hub - Monday, 30 December - 1pm to 3pm (booking required)
• Winter Warm Event - Barkerend Family Hub - Thursday, 12 December - 9am to 12 noon
• End of year celebration - Rainbow Family Hub - Monday, 30 December - 11am to 1pm

You can keep up to date with events with the Family Hub timetables and the FYI website What's On guide. 

Festive fun across the Bradford district

If you are looking for free or low cost activities to enjoy with the family, there is lots on offer!

Bradford District's museums and galleries have a variety of events and festivities, including:

• Deck the Halls at Bolling Hall Museum and Library - Sunday, 1 December, 11am to 3PM - with crafting, tree decorating and festive music - FREE event.
• Christmas at Cliffe Castle - general event free, Santa's grotto £10 (includes gift) - 'Quiet weekend' timetable includes sessions aimed at children who would benefit from a more quiet and relaxed atmosphere.  

You can see all of Bradford Museum and Galleries events in their What's On guide. 

HAF Christmas clubs taking bookings now

Fantastic news for families - holiday activities and food (HAF) clubs are taking place over the Christmas holidays - and bookings are open now.

HAF clubs provide free fun activities and a healthy meal for eligible children. Places are free for children who live in the Bradford district and:

• get benefits-related free school meals
• and/or have special educational needs or disabilities.

Places are limited on the clubs so please book early to avoid missing out. If you or someone you know is eligible please don't delay - book your places for your child(ren) using the link below.

Visit a warm space across the Bradford District this winter

Across Bradford District there are Warm Spaces – venues where people can gather for free in a safe, friendly place and maybe enjoy a drink and some company.

The network of Warm Spaces is made up of libraries, community centres, church halls, sports clubs, family hubs and other places.

Warm Spaces are totally free to use and are open to everyone.

Search the directory to find your nearest Warm Space and its opening times.

Get vaccinated, get winter strong

If your child is aged 2 to 3 years, you can contact your GP practice to book an appointment for the nasal spray flu vaccine to help protect them against serious illness this winter.

Flu spreads more easily among children in winter because we all spend more time indoors with others.

Children are more likely to catch winter viruses like flu, which can spread to other family members, such as grandparents.

Why have a vaccine?

Children under 5 years old have one of the highest hospitalisation rates. If your child is vaccinated and catches flu, their symptoms will be milder and their recovery quicker.

Children may develop a runny or blocked nose, headache, general tiredness, and some loss of appetite when they have the vaccine. However, these side effects are much milder than developing flu, or complications associated with flu, and get better in 1 to 2 days.

Flu vaccines for all 

Children are usually offered the quick and easy nasal spray flu vaccine. The nasal spray does contain traces of gelatine (porcine gelatine), which is used in a range of many essential medicines. For those who may not accept the use of porcine gelatine in medical products, an injected flu vaccine is available for your child as an alternative. You should discuss your options with your GP practice.

Getting your child vaccinated

For children aged 2 to 3 years, please don't miss out on the vaccine - contact your GP practice as soon as possible to book an appointment.

If you have a child that is 4 or over they can also have a flu vaccine. This is usually given at school, but if they haven't already had their vaccine at school, find out what you should do next here: Children's flu vaccine - NHS.

Information and training
for professionals and practitioners

In Our Place - poster and resources for practitioners, partners and workplaces

We all want all of Bradford District’s children to have the best start in life, and for people of all ages to be as happy and well as possible throughout their lives.

In Our Place is an online library of free, evidence-based courses for everyone in the Bradford District, which helps support this aim.

In Our Place is a fantastic additional resource which complements and enhances (but does not replace) our existing programmes and support for families. While for many families, a face to face programme will be their preferred option, there are also many families across the Bradford District for whom an easy-to-access online course is going to be more appropriate.

It's FREE

All the In Our Place courses are completely free for Bradford District residents with the access code – BDPARENTS.

Access the free marketing and communications toolkit As In Our Place is available to all families and residents, we would really appreciate district-wide colleagues’ support in sharing the message across the district. A toolkit has been created on the FYI website which includes a poster that can be printed out for display, as well as other resources, including for social media. The toolkit is available on the FYI website: In Our Place - communications toolkit | Bradford Families and Young Persons. Please get in touch with josephine.graham@bradford.gov.uk if you have any questions about the communications resources.

Better Start Bradford - Baby Week online learning session

Following the success of Baby Week Bradford, on Thursday, 5 December, Better Start Bradford's Early Years Specialist, Helen, will explore why we all need to play, what play means to different people and how it benefits everyone from birth to adulthood.

This session will:

• Share some of the highlights of the learning from Baby Week Bradford 2024
• Explore why play is so important for all our society, children and adults.
• Discover some ideas about how play can become part of all our lives.

The session is on  MS Teams.

These events are designed for practitioners and students in public, voluntary, education, arts and any other organisations who work with and support families, plus anyone who wants to know more about Better Start Bradford's work in the Bradford district.

The session is online, on Thursday, 5 December, from 10am to 11.30am.

To find out more and book your place see: Virtual Live Learning Session: How Baby Week Bradford 2024 ‘Playful Starts and Happy Hearts’ Put Play Centre-Stage.

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: