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September 2025

Welcome to your September newsletter!

Oops, our September newsletter is a little late this month, for technical reasons! We will be back to normal for October, and the next newsletter after this will come out later this month.

In this month's newsletter you will find exciting news about Baby Week Bradford 2025, a heartwarming real-life story from Dad Matters, a new service to provide help and advice around school attendance, information about SEND support, and lots more.

As always, this newsletter is packed with information and support from the Family Hubs and other trusted organisations across the district. We also include our ever-popular links to the Family Hub timetables, and useful pages on the FYI (Families and Young Persons Information) website.

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

News for families and colleagues

Baby Week Bradford is back for 2025!

Baby Week Bradford is back, from 14 to 20 November 2025, and it’s all about YOU!

This year’s theme is Caring for you, Caring for baby, because self-care is a must when caring for your baby.

Watch this space for some brilliant events where you can join activities hosted by Better Start Bradford, Family Hubs Start for Life, the Family Hubs and our amazing partner organisations. 

Throughout the week we will help you and your baby with activities, events and information around:

• Personal care
• Good health and nutrition
• Improved mental health
• Making little moments to make time for yourself
• Making the most of support networks
• Being active, playful and bonding with baby

Not only that, get ready for lots and LOTS of fun! 

Activities will be both indoors and outdoors, right across the Bradford district, for expectant families, families with children babies and young children, and the maternity and early years workforce.

Together we will explore why self-care is so important for babies’ development and health, and uncover the benefits for all of us by caring a little more about ourselves.

Look out for more promotion of events as we get nearer the time.

Organising an event?

Professionals, groups and organisations, if you are running an event during Baby Week Bradford, then please add your event to the national Baby Week UK website here: https://babyweek.co.uk/add-an-event/

Sign up to keep updated

To sign up to receive updates about what is happening during this year's Baby Week Bradford across the district, head over the Baby Week Bradford website and complete the form here: Baby Week Bradford updates.

Pumpkin Olympics coming to Farcliffe Family Hub!

On 31 October, come along to Farcliffe Family Hub for the Pumpkin Olympics!

Join us for relaxed autumn games and crafts – take home a medal and a free nature kit!

This event is for families with learning disabled and/or autistic children of all ages. It is an inclusive event - brothers and sisters also welcome, to involve the whole family. Parents and carers please stay for the full session. 

Places will be limited, so please contact Farcliffe Family Hub on 01274 436700 to book.

This is a Sendiverse event with Mind The Gap and Bradford West’s Our Patch team (part of the Bradford 2025 City of Culture).

More Sendiverse events are in planning in Family Hubs across the Bradford district. Follow the hubs on Facebook to find out more.

SEND support – you're not alone

Are you wondering whether your child might have additional needs?

You might have noticed that your child is developing, learning, or behaving a little differently to others their age - whether at home, at nursery, or when you're out and about. Maybe their school or nursery has shared some concerns, like noticing they are finding reading or writing more difficult, or perhaps your child is struggling with certain behaviours.

It’s natural to feel worried or even overwhelmed at first. But you’re not alone - there is SEND (special educational needs and disabilities) support available.

Whether you're just starting to ask questions or already looking for help, there are people in schools, nurseries, and across the community who are here to listen and guide you. There is also information and support online, to help you take the next steps to support and nurture your child. 

Here's how to get help:

• It’s a good idea to ask someone that you trust about any concerns you may have and how to get extra support, for example, a nursery practitioner, a teacher, the Special Educational Needs Co-ordinator (SENCo) at school, or your GP or health visitor.
• You can visit your local Family Hub and ask to speak to the Family Navigator to find out about the support there.
• There is also a dedicated page on the FYI website explaining the support in Family Hubs SEND support in Family Hubs.
• There’s lots of information to get you started on the SEND Local Offer website. This is a single place for information about support for children and young people with special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND): An Introduction - One Minute Guides.
• You could also try the free course Understanding your child with additional needs. This online course is free with the code BDPARENTS. 

Whatever support you explore first, with the right help, you can feel more confident and better equipped to support your child’s needs.

In Our Place is becoming ‘Togetherness’

From mid-October, 'In Our Place', the online library of free courses to help with emotional wellbeing, will change its name to 'Togetherness'.

The new name, Togetherness, better shows what the courses are about: supporting people’s emotional health and resilience through connection, relationships, and kindness.

Since we launched In Our Place last year, almost 500 people in the Bradford District have used the courses to learn more about relationships, parenting, and feelings.

Now, whether you're a parent, carer, grandparent, teen, or professional, Togetherness will offer the same trusted courses and resources but with a new look.

What will this change mean?

• A new name – Togetherness
• A new website with a fresh, updated design
• Easier to use, and improved accessibility, including fonts that are better for people with dyslexia
• Improved course materials, with more updates coming soon
• Saved links and favourites for 'In Our Place' will still work, but will take you to the new 'Togetherness' website

What will stay the same?

• Support for all ages – from pregnancy to teens, and adults too
• Practical advice, backed by evidence and insight from psychology experts
• Free access to online parenting courses will continue, with the access code BDPARENTS
• If you’re already using a course, you can keep going with minimal or no disruption

For the next couple of weeks the In Our Place website will still be available at inourplace.co.uk/bradford, but this will then be replaced by LEARN - Togetherness

Please look out for more promotion coming soon, and take up the opportunity to find out more about the amazing online learning pathways that are available!

Professionals

Please take a look in the Professionals section of this newsletter for more links to background information and what this change means for you. 

Education drop-in - for support with school attendance

Is your child struggling to attend school regularly? Or does your child's school have concerns about your child’s attendance?

Come along to this new drop-in session, for non-judgmental support and advice:

• A safe space to discuss worries or seek advice
• Putting families in touch with services that provide support
• An impartial link to support conversation with your child’s school
• Connecting families with an attendance support worker

For parents and carers of children aged 5 to 16 who attend, or have a place at, a school in the Bradford District.

Professionals also welcome to drop in for advice and information.

Sessions will be held weekly across the Bradford district’s Family Hubs (during term time only). Drop-in session - no need to book.

Please check the Family Hub timetables for more information about upcoming sessions, or visit the What’s On guide on the FYI website: Education drop-in (school attendance).

If you have any questions please email Attendance@bradford.gov.uk.

School anxiety - 'emotionally based school avoidance'

• Is your child struggling to go to school due to feelings of worry or stress?
• Are you unsure about what to do?

Emotionally based school avoidance, or EBSA, happens when children and young people have worries about school, leading to difficulties attending school.

If this is happening in your family, you can join the friendly and supportive Parent Support Group with the Educational Psychology Team. You’ll find a safe space to:

• Share and listen to other parents and get ideas to help.
• Learn more about what you can do to support your child, and what you can expect from school.

The groups will run for 4 sessions - you must be able to attend all 4.

The next groups are starting as follows:

• Online from 12 November
• Barkerend Family Hub from 14 January

It doesn't matter where in the Bradford District you live - you may attend either group.

Book: by e-mailing EBSA@bradford.gov.uk or by calling 01274 439444.

Find out more on the FYI website - Directory Search Page - EBSA. 

Dad Matters "made a big difference to me"

"Dad of one, Raza, 44, felt out of place as he was the only dad sat among all the expectant and new mums at the Maternity Circle that he attended with his pregnant wife.

"That changed when Dad Matters Bradford Coordinator, Mohammed, came along to the session to meet him."

Please visit the Home Start Bradford website to read more of this heart-warming story of how Mohammed supported Raza through the highs and lows of his fatherhood journey, from financial worries, to the joy of talking to his unborn son - and making him kick in response!

About Dad Matters Bradford

The Dad Matters coordinators at Home-Start Bradford District support expectant Dads, Dads and male carers to have the best possible relationship with their children.

They work closely with other professionals within the Bradford District to collectively foster better support for Dads in their parenting journey. They also provide friendly, welcoming sessions such as regular Walk n Talk sessions in Bradford's parks.

Dad Matters in the Bradford District is funded by the Family Hubs and Start for Life programme.

Find out more on the Dad Matters website or follow them on Facebook. You can also find out about support for dads on the FYI website. 

New Dad Workshop 

This month, Dad Matters are holding a free workshop for new dads, or dads to be - suitable from when your partner is pregnant, up to your baby being 12 weeks old!

• Thursday, 30 October
• 6pm to 7.15pm
• Cafe West Healthy Living Centre, Wanstead Crescent, Allerton, BD15 7PA

To join the session please call Louise on 07935616261.

Dad Matters teaming up with Together We Forest School

Together We Forest School, an outdoor play centre based in Denholme Clough, Bradford, is hosting Dad Matters Bradford on Saturday, 8 November (10am to 12pm) for a fun forest school session.

Wrap up warm for outdoorsy activities aimed at dads and male carers, and your children aged 0 to 2!

To book your place, please fill out the form below or contact Louise on 07935616261.

https://forms.office.com/e/QYjiXzJJ34

Give your child the best start in life – Let’s Get Talking Bradford!

Have you heard about the Talking Bradford guide on the FYI website? It’s a great way to find help for your child with talking and communication.

There’s lots you can do at home together, like choosing a fun and easy activity from the award-winning CBeebies Tiny Happy People website, from the BBC.

Bradford mums who have tried the guide said: “Having all the information to help families in one place is a good idea!.. I watched some of the videos and found them all helpful, especially the Tiny Happy People ones.”

Visit the FYI website and the Talking Bradford guide to find out more, or watch our short film: Video - Welcome to Talking Bradford!

Give your feedback about Talking Bradford, at the parent and carer panel

Mums, dads and carers are invited to Barkerend Family Hub, on 8 October, to join the Bradford East parent carer panel group, and give your feedback about all things Talking Bradford.

Helen Rush, the Talking Bradford lead, will be at the session and is keen to hear your views.

To take part, come along to Barkerend Family Hub on Wednesday, 8 October, from 9.30am to 11.30am. If you'd like to come to this panel or any of the other sessions you can find out more and register on the FYI website: Parent and carer panels .

'You said, we did' - listening to families at the Family Hubs!

Our district's family hubs are always open to feedback and ideas from families, whether through organised sessions such as parent-carer panels, or informally at any point when a family has something to suggest.

Recently the hubs have started to display families' comments - and the action taken - on their noticeboards.

Here are a few highlights from the last month or two. The noticeboards inside the hubs will be updated monthly - please look out for these next time you pop in.

Find out more about the Family Hubs, and view the timetables, on the FYI website.

Information and training
for professionals and practitioners

‘Togetherness’ - what does this mean for professionals in our District?

From mid-October, 'In Our Place', the online library of free courses to help with emotional wellbeing, will change its name to 'Togetherness'.

What is Togetherness?

Togetherness is an NHS emotional health team, which shares evidence-based teaching and learning about emotional wellbeing and preventative mental health.

The organisation behind Togetherness, and In Our Place, was previously known as 'Solihull Approach' - a name many professionals in our district may be familiar with.

The new name, Togetherness, will bring Solihull Approach and In Our Place together, to create a more joined up experience for professionals or families that may be accessing support, training, or materials from these offers.

From mid-October, the In Our Place website will be closed and the name no longer used.

Togetherness will continue to refer to Solihull Approach, as the evidence base and model that Togetherness is built on. However, Togetherness will no longer use Solihull Approach as their identity or the name of their services.

If you are interested, you can find out more on the Becoming Togetherness webpage.

What does this mean to you?

The 17 fantastic courses available from In Our Place will soon be rebranded as Togetherness. 

If you have previously promoted In Our Place to families, please start referring to Togetherness instead.

We will start to roll out new Togetherness posters, flyers and other promotional materials as soon as possible, to replace the In Our Place materials that may be on noticeboards etc. This will include updating the toolkit of resources on the FYI website. 

Please be assured that all links to In Our Place will continue to work, and from mid-October will redirect to the Togetherness website.

If you have any questions about Togetherness promotional materials, please contact josephine.graham@bradford.gov.uk.  

Could you become an NHS Healthy Start Scheme Champion for your food project or work role?

We know that many of Bradford's eligible families don't apply for their NHS Healthy Start payments, but they could get nearly £1200 per child from the 10^th week of pregnancy until their child is 4 years old.

This money can be spent on fresh, frozen, and tinned fruit and vegetables, fresh, dried, and tinned pulses, cow’s milk, and infant formula milk based on cow’s milk; there are also free vitamins.

It’s well worth supporting families to check if they’re eligible and apply.

This free training will help professionals guide families through how the NHS Healthy Start payments work, help them check if they are eligible, and how to apply. 

Choose between 3 different times/dates and venues:

• Wednesday, 8 October, 10.30am to 11.45am - face to face training in Keighley
• Tuesday, 14 October, 10.15am to 11.30am, face to face training in Bradford
• Wednesday, 22 October 10.15am to 11.15am, online on Teams

The course will be co-delivered by the Nutrition Improvement Dietitians Team, Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust and Feeding Bradford and Keighley.  We will walk you through the whole process, help with trouble shooting and give you resources.  And there will be certificates, coffee, tea, fruit, and biscuits!  

The online session will be the same, but you’ll need to provide your own refreshments!

For more information and to book click here.  If you’re having problems with booking via the link do email Cathy at cathy@feedingbradford.org.uk instead.

Families interested in finding out more about the scheme, please visit Get help to buy food and milk (Healthy Start).

Better Start Bradford and Born in Bradford conference

You still have time to book on the Better Start Bradford and Born in Bradford conference on Wednesday, 15 and Thursday, 16 October.

• Day One: A Decade of Discovery
• Day Two: Seeds of Change

Venue: The Great Victoria Hotel, Bridge St, Bradford, BD1 1JX

To book your place(s) and find out more about the conference and the timetable, please visit Eventbrite here: : Better Start Bradford and Born in Bradford conference.

Family Hubs and Start for Life
useful information and contacts

Family Hub timetables - October 2025

Our Family Hub area timetables, on the FYI website, 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: