Imagination Tree

Funded through the Happy Early Years (HEY!) Fund, Imagination Tree delivered fun and playful sessions that brought stories to life with creative storytelling activities. Each week families with 0-4s explored different stories and brought them to life with interactive play.

Activities included: messy play, outdoor play, arts and crafts, role playing, story sensory boxes and small world play.

Imagination Tree was led by mum of three, Nadia Noreen

“I got involved with Better Start Bradford by attending Play and Learn sessions four years ago. The Better Start Bradford Neighbourhood Workers at West Bowling Advice Centre played a huge part in helping me get out of the house and opened-up opportunities for me to interact with other local mums.

“I gained a lot of confidence by coming to sessions for families with 0-4s and thoroughly enjoyed that quality time with my children in an enriched learning environment.

“I applied for the HEY! Fund after some encouragement from Sofia Dauraiz and Saira Riaz, I felt motivated to lead sessions and wanted to give local families an experience like I had, had when I first got involved with Better Start Bradford.

“By taking a lead on Imagination Tree, I have gained so much confidence and pushed myself out of my comfort zone. I thoroughly enjoyed the experience and felt a great sense of achievement to see such a good turn out to the sessions, and I received positive feedback from the parents that attended.

“Some of the challenges I faced was juggling childcare for my own children and trying to work around being a mum and plan the sessions. I was supported by the amazing Better Start Bradford Family and Community Engagement (FACE) team and their Early Years Facilitator, Charlotte Woodhouse.”