
About us
Find out who we are, why we exist and why we're so passionate about the early years

Better Start Bradford
We know the earliest years are critical to a child's future and want children across the Better Start Bradford area and beyond to have the best possible start in life, in terms of their health, wellbeing and life chances.
From 2015 to 2025 we set up over 20 evidence-led projects and services for expectant families and families with 0-3s in Bowling and Barkerend, Bradford Moor and Little Horton, focusing on:
- Diet, nutrition and healthy physical development
- Social and emotional development
- Speech, language and communication development
Each one was meticulously designed with, and for, our specific communities, delivered by trusted partner organisations, and evaluated throughout. We wanted to find out what worked so we could share it to promote wider change.
This work has been supported by complementary strands of work, including community engagement, workforce development, campaigns and volunteering.

A Better Start
Better Start Bradford is part of the ten-year A Better Start programme set up and funded by The National Lottery Community Fund in 2015, along with our sister sites:
- A Better Start Southend
- Blackpool Better Start
- LEAP (Lambeth)
- Small Steps Big Changes (Nottingham)
Together, we've made support and services for families stronger, so that children can have the best start in life.
What would you like to know more about?
A Better Start aimed to improve the life chances of babies and very young children by changing the way services are commissioned and delivered, involving parents as equal partners.
From 2015 to 2025 we delivered over 20 evidence-led projects and services for expectant families and families with children aged 0-3 in Bowling and Barkerend, Bradford Moor and Little Horton. What did we find out?
Better Start Bradford is an evidence-led programme, developed according to research into what works when it comes to supporting expectant families and families with children aged 0-3. Find out how it has been evaluated.
We are proud to have served the communities of Bowling and Barkerend, Bradford Moor and Little Horton, AKA 'the Better Start Bradford area', from 2015-2025
Find out who makes up our Partnership Board and why our governance structure is a little bit different
Over 300 volunteers have given their time and skills to make a real, lasting difference to families in Bowling and Barkerend, Bradford Moor and Little Horton since the start of the Better Start Bradford programme.
Research and evidence from A Better Start about the early years and the programme's contribution to improved child outcomes is published regularly by The National Lottery Community Fund
You may also like to look at...
Find out what's new at Better Start Bradford and read real-life impact stories from families, professionals and volunteers who have benefited from our work.
Dip into our library of research and evaluation reports, articles, family and early years resources, videos, podcast episodes and more!