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Little Minds Matter

April 2018 to March 2024

Little Minds Matter: Bradford Infant Mental Health Service is a specialised parent-infant relationship service working with infants, their families, and associated professional networks during the first 1001 critical days (conception to two years).

It was delivered as part of the Better Start Bradford programme from 2018 to to 2024 by Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust and Family Action.

How this project was delivered

A dynamic multi-disciplinary team delivered four strands of work to embed early intervention support for Bradford families through direct clinical support, training, consultation, and community engagement.

Practitioners built trusting relationships with families and the wider professional networks around families, to bolster and enhance support already available, fostering strong working relationships to ensure that families were held and supported through a collective network.

Feedback

"Talking to Little Minds Matter helped my mental state. It helped me be able to talk about my difficulties and be more compassionate to myself. I am now more able to notice my thoughts and not be consumed by them. I feel more accepting of where I am now and am looking forward to the future."

"I’ve realised that it’s what the baby wants me to do that’s important rather than what other people want me to do."

"Keep on doing what you are doing. You are doing a fantastic job. I wouldn’t be in this place where I am without your help. I don’t like to think about where I would be, I may not even be here. So thank you."

"The training was extremely valuable. The section on attachment consolidated my knowledge. There was many areas that I did not feel confident in, but I walked away feeling equipped with the knowledge to identify infant mental health and the ability to better support the families I work with."

Background, impact and findings

Further reading

Download the 'project on a page'

Download this snapshot of Little Minds Matter, with headline stats, background, impact and learning (PDF).

Read the Little Minds Matter final evaluation report

This report provides an overview of project performance and findings from an implementation and before-and-after outcome evaluation by the Better Start Bradford Innovation Hub.

Mobilising Early Years Research for a Brighter Future: Social and Emotional Wellbeing

In this webinar, the Better Start Bradford Innovation Hub and Better Start Bradford, explore evaluation findings relating to the Little Minds Matter, Baby Steps, Incredible Years and Personalised Midwifery projects

Moments that Matter

A series of videos made by parents for parents, developed by Little Minds Matter. Watch parents and carers sharing precious little moments which will help little ones' brains grow and develop.

Download Little Minds Matter's Five Point Action Card

If you work with families with a babies, this card will help you to consider how your plans and/or decisions may affect the baby, what the parent-infant relationship looks like, and whether there are any concerns.

Impact Stories / 21st August 2021
Taking time for ‘Moments that Matter’ in Bradford

Dr Hannah Swan, Clinical Lead at Little Minds Matter, and Gill Thornton at Better Start Bradford, introduce a campaign promoting the vital everyday interactions between parent and child.

Impact Stories / 5th January 2021
'A stitch in time saves nine': why a little bit of mental health training can go a long way

The idea that prevention is better than cure is not new, but when thinking about the complexities of child development and mental health, how can we truly be preventative?

Impact Stories / 30th April 2020
Perceptions of pregnancy: our lessons learned from listening

Jane Ellis, Assistant Psychologist with Little Minds Matter at Better Start Bradford, describes how the advice of mums was key to shaping well-being support for other pregnant women and mothers of very young children.

Impact Stories / 12th June 2018
Little Minds do matter

Dr Gemma Dyble, Clinical Lead & Clinical Psychologist with our latest project: Little Minds Matter, explains why parents in Better Start Bradford are being encouraged to consider their babies’ mental health.