Families celebrate a decade of Better Start Bradford at Family Fun Event
8 October 2025
Over 200 local residents came together recently to celebrate the final year of the Better Start Bradford programme at a special family fun day, marking a decade of positive impact for expectant parents and families with 0-3s across the Better Start Bradford area.
Held at the Mayfield Centre in the autumn sunshine, the event brought together families, early years practitioners and community organisations for a day filled with entertainment, activities, and a reflection on ten years of achievement.
Since its launch in 2015, Better Start Bradford has reached more than 25,000 people through its community events, workshops and early years programmes aimed at giving children the best possible start in life.
The family fun day featured live performances by Punjabi Roots and BoomChikkaBoom, children’s crafts, outdoor play, funky den building, a giant marble run and storytelling sessions, as well as opportunities for families to learn more about local services and support networks.
Gill Thornton, Director, Better Start Bradford said:
I want to offer my personal thanks to all the parents who have been part of the Better Start Bradford Programme for the last 10 years and more, supporting us when we were putting the original bid together and making sure the parent voice was central. That support has carried on all the way through and is the greatest strength of Better Start Bradford.
There is no doubt in my mind that that parent involvement has made our work as successful as it has been. Thousands of parents have helped to design, deliver, run and participate in this amazing programme bringing together children, families and the early years workforce, and embedding Better Start Bradford in local communities.
Over the last ten years, Better Start Bradford has helped transform how we support young children and their families, and today’s turnout shows how strong that legacy will continue to be.
Funded by The National Lottery Community Fund, Better Start Bradford has worked with parents, health professionals, and community groups across Bradford to deliver a range of innovative projects focused on pregnancy, early childhood, and family wellbeing and has invested over £2 million in improving green spaces and parks in the Better Start Bradford area.
As the programme comes to a close, local partners and families are looking ahead to building on the strong foundations laid over the past decade.
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