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Our Projects 2015-2025 – By Theme

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?

View page
Event Activities for parents / carers with children

Nature Nurture Outdoor Play Session – Horton Park

Wednesday 25th March 2026 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm –

Join the Better Place team for outdoor fun for families with children aged 0-3 at the natural play area at parks in the Better Start Bradford area.

View event
News & Impact Stories Impact Stories

Reaching the future workforce

Charlotte Woodhouse, early years facilitator at Better Start Bradford, shows how the partnership was able to provide bespoke training to support the needs of Level 2 and 3 students in local colleges.  

View post
Page Impact Stories

Learning Articles

A collection of articles written by subject matter experts across the length and breadth of the Better Start Bradford programme

View page
Page Impact Stories

Toolkits and Early Years Resources

We've poured our expertise into a range of toolkits and other resources for early years settings, anyone working or volunteering with families with young children, or anyone training the early years workforce.

View page
Page Resources and toolkits

Student Placement Workbook

A practical workbook for Bradford T Level Early Years and Education students, to expand their knowledge and link theory to practice whilst out on placement

View page
Page Resources and toolkits

Engaging Dads and Male Carers

A practical toolkit for voluntary and community organisations wishing to develop their work with dads and male carers, drawn from our 10 years of work in Bradford

View page
Page Evaluation and impact library

Baby Week Bradford 2018-2025: The Adventure So Far…

In celebration and recognition of bringing Baby Week to Bradford and developing it over 8 fantastic years, we're sharing our journey, experiences and top tips for anyone who might be interested in taking on the challenge

View page
News & Impact Stories Impact Stories

Better data in Bradford

Richard Scholes provides an insightful overview of the implementation and impact of TPP’s SystmOne clinical software, while highlighting the challenges, successes, and transformative outcomes of using the software.

View post
News & Impact Stories News

Better Place’s Lovely Bug Ball

Over 200 families, with many young children dressed as ladybirds, bees, butterflies and mini beasts, attended Better Place's Lovely Bug Ball at Bowling Park on Sunday 16 March 2025.

View post
Project Learning library

Our Volunteer Heroes

Over 300 volunteers gave 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.

View project
Project Learning library

Sensory Art Adventures

Funded through the Happy Early Years (HEY!) Fund, Sensory Art Adventures provided sessions using various art activities for families with 0-3s and expectant parents.

View project
Project Learning library

Tiny Toes

Grandmother of 13, Shaheena received £2,500 to deliver a soft play group at Horton Park Primary School.

View project
Project Learning library

Toddle Ball

Toddle Ball received £1,705 to deliver fun and engaging football sessions for families with 0-3s.

View project
Project Learning library

Where The Wild Things Are

Where the Wild Things Are received £2,499 to deliver a six-week stay and learn group offering families with 0-3s the opportunity to meet live animals up close.

View project
News & Impact Stories News

Better Place Bradford Branching Out

Better Place successfully secured £656 to plant 15 trees at the toddler natural play areas at Bowling Park and Horton Park and at the Mayfield Centre Pocket Park.

View post
Project Resources and toolkits

Wonder Tots

Wonder Tots received £2,500 to offer a stay and learn group to give young children a head start before joining nursery education in a fun, interactive and safe environment.

View project
Project Resources and toolkits

Imagination Tree

Imagination Tree received £2,232 to deliver fun and playful sessions with creative storytelling activities by exploring different stories and bringing them to life with interactive play.

View project
Project Resources and toolkits

The Happy Early Years (HEY!) Fund

The Happy Early Years (HEY!) Fund enabled parents and carers in the Better Start Bradford area to apply for up to £2,500 to develop ideas and initiatives for local families and their 0-3s.

View project
Project Resources and toolkits

Happy Time

Happy Time received £2,346 to offer an educational outdoor group with various activities for parents and children including nature play, sensory play, messy play and much more.

View project
Project Resources and toolkits

Little Farmers

Little Farmers received £2,204 to offer various activities for children and parents, centred around learning about farm animals. Activities included crafts, dancing, messy play, rhymes, singing, stories and much more.

View project
Project Resources and toolkits

Thornbury Tots

Thornbury Tots received £2030 to offer various activities for children and parents, including soft play, sensory play, messy play, singing, dancing and exercise.

View project
Project Learning library

Little Minds Matter

Little Minds Matter is a specialised parent-infant relationship service working with infants, their families, and associated professional networks. It formed part of the Better Start Bradford programme from 2018 to 2024.

View project
Project Learning library

Born in Bradford’s Better Start (BiBBS)

Born in Bradford’s Better Start (BiBBS) is a birth cohort study that aims to understand the effects of the early-life interventions led by Better Start Bradford on children’s health and development.

View project
Project Learning library

ESOL for Pregnancy and ESOL with Infants

ESOL for Pregnancy was an embedded English course helping women develop their language skills. ESOL with Infants was a follow-on project helping parents and carers develop their language skills through sharing books.

View project
Project Learning library

Bradford Doulas

Acting as a ‘professional friend’, volunteer doulas helped pregnant women and birthing people navigate their pregnancy journey and make positive choices as part of the Better Start Bradford programme from 2017 to 2024.

View project
Project Learning library

Family Nurse Partnership

Family Nurse Partnership (FNP) is an evidence-based, preventative programme for first-time parents. It was delivered as part of the Better Start Bradford programme from 2016 to 2019.

View project
Project Learning library

MECSH

MECSH is a programme of regular home visits with the same Health Visitor. Originally developed in Australia, it was delivered as part of the Better Start Bradford programme from 2021 to 2023.

View project
Project Learning library

Innovation Fund

The Innovation Fund enabled organisations to pilot new, innovative approaches robustly over a period of a year, with potential for them to become a fully-fledged Better Start Bradford project.

View project
Project Learning library

Resilient Dads

Resilient Dads was a holistic personal development and parenting skills programme aiming to develop the skills and competence of dads/male carers to support the social, emotional, and cognitive development of their 0-3s.

View project
Project Learning library

The Play Gym and Hubert St Kitchen

The Play Gym and Hubert St. Kitchen provides a fun, free, creative play space for young children, and provides parents/carers the opportunity to access support, practical training and advice. 

View project
Project Learning library

Older Yet Wiser

Older Yet Wiser received funding to deliver a series of workshops for grandparents with child-caring responsibilities to help them contribute to their grandchildren’s social and emotional wellbeing.

View project
Project Learning library

Growing Together

Horton Community Farm and Grow To School joined forces to create their Growing Together project to bring parents/carers and young children together to learn to grow, cook and eat their own produce.

View project
Project Learning library

Enhancing the HABIT

The University of Leeds received funding to improve oral health for 0-3s to deliver their ‘Enhancing the HABIT’ oral health intervention with the area’s Health Visitors.

View project
Project Learning library

Better Place Bradford

The Better Place project has transformed parks and green spaces for the benefit of families with play equipment and facilities specifically designed for 0-3s, right across the Better Start Bradford area.

View project
Project Learning library

Breastfeeding Support Project

The Breastfeeding Support Project helped families meet their breastfeeding goals through trained, employed peer supporters. It was delivered as part of the Better Start Bradford programme from 2018 to 2024.

View project
Project Learning library

Incredible Years (Toddler Basic)

Incredible Years (Toddler Basic) is an established evidence-based parenting programme, promoting positive attachment. It was delivered as part of the Better Start Bradford programme from 2018 to 2024.

View project
Project Learning library

Home-Start Better Start

Home-Start Better Start is a peer support intervention, providing emotional and practical support to families with 0-3 year olds, and ran as part of the Better Start Bradford programme from 2017 to 2024.

View project
Project Learning library

HAPPY

HAPPY aimed to reduce childhood obesity risk by targeting an at-risk group - during and after pregnancy - by promoting healthy behaviours. It was part of the Better Start Bradford programme from 2018 to 2022.

View project
Project Learning library

Baby Steps

Baby Steps is a relationships-based perinatal parent education programme. It was delivered as part of the Better Start Bradford programme from 2018 to 2024.

View project
Project Learning library

I CAN

I CAN encompassed training sessions, guidance and support for childcare practitioners, designed to improve the language environment for young children attending early years settings.

View project
Project Learning library

Talking Together

Talking Together was designed to improve the home learning environment for children aged 2 who are at risk of language development delay, and formed part of the Better Start Bradford programme from 2015 to 2024.

View project
Project Learning library

HENRY Healthy Families

HENRY’s Healthy Families programme guides groups of parents and carers towards healthier habits for the whole family and was part of the Better Start Bradford programme from 2016 to 2024.

View project
Project Learning library

Forest School Play Project

The Forest School Play Project was an adventurous nature-based play programme that has brought an array of learning opportunities for young children, their families and the early years workforce

View project
Project Learning library

Cooking for a Better Start

Cooking for a Better Start offered practical cooking sessions to parents/carers of children aged 0-3 years, to build knowledge and skills around cooking low-cost, healthy meals from scratch, and healthy eating

View project
Project Learning library

Perinatal Support Service

The Perinatal Support Service helped pregnant women and women with babies who were suffering/at risk from mild-moderate mental health issues, from 2015 to 2024.

View project
Project Learning library

Better Start Imagine

Better Start Imagine gifted over 275,000 books to children aged 0-3 from 2016 to 2024, to promote and model the importance of sharing books with young children.

View project
Project News

Personalised Midwifery Project

Our Personalised Midwifery Project provided women and their families with personalised, continuous care before, during and after the birth of their baby. It ran from 2015 to 2024.

View project
Page Evaluation and impact library

Hooray for Play: 18 November 2024

Health and early years professionals from across the Bradford district got together to discuss the value that play has on so many aspects of babies and children’s development, health, wellbeing and happiness.

View page
News & Impact Stories News

Better Place on Tour

Over the past couple of months, the Better Place team have been taking local families with 0-3s outside of the Better Start Bradford area to inspire and stimulate their creativity and outdoor experiences.

View post
Event Activities for parents / carers with children

Wood Workshops (Bradford Moor Park)

Thursday 19th March 2026 @ 12:30 pm – 2:30 pm –

Join the Better Place team for outdoor fun for families with children aged 0-4 at the natural play area at parks in the Better Start Bradford area.

View event
Event Activities for parents / carers with children

Wood Workshops (Bradford Moor Park)

Thursday 23rd April 2026 @ 12:30 pm – 2:30 pm –

Join the Better Place team for outdoor fun for families with children aged 0-4 at the natural play area at parks in the Better Start Bradford area.

View event
News & Impact Stories Impact Stories

Getting outdoors with twins

Mum of three-year-old twins, Ahwasia, found it quite daunting getting out and about, but thanks to the organised activities set up by Better Place, she decided to give it a go and never looked back!

View post
Project Impact Stories

Neighbourhoods Project

The Neighbourhoods Project ran from 2019 to 2024 to optimise recruitment into Better Start Bradford projects from under-represented groups, and to ensure that the programme messages reached as many families as possible.

View project
Page Outdoor activities

Our Projects 2015-2025 – By Theme

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?

View page
Event Activities for parents / carers with children

Nature Nurture Outdoor Play Session – Horton Park

Wednesday 25th March 2026 @ 10:00 am – 12:00 pm –

Join the Better Place team for outdoor fun for families with children aged 0-3 at the natural play area at parks in the Better Start Bradford area.

View event
News & Impact Stories Impact Stories

Reaching the future workforce

Charlotte Woodhouse, early years facilitator at Better Start Bradford, shows how the partnership was able to provide bespoke training to support the needs of Level 2 and 3 students in local colleges.  

View post
Page Impact Stories

Learning Articles

A collection of articles written by subject matter experts across the length and breadth of the Better Start Bradford programme

View page
Page Impact Stories

Toolkits and Early Years Resources

We've poured our expertise into a range of toolkits and other resources for early years settings, anyone working or volunteering with families with young children, or anyone training the early years workforce.

View page
Page Resources and toolkits

Student Placement Workbook

A practical workbook for Bradford T Level Early Years and Education students, to expand their knowledge and link theory to practice whilst out on placement

View page
Page Resources and toolkits

Engaging Dads and Male Carers

A practical toolkit for voluntary and community organisations wishing to develop their work with dads and male carers, drawn from our 10 years of work in Bradford

View page
Page Evaluation and impact library

Baby Week Bradford 2018-2025: The Adventure So Far…

In celebration and recognition of bringing Baby Week to Bradford and developing it over 8 fantastic years, we're sharing our journey, experiences and top tips for anyone who might be interested in taking on the challenge

View page
News & Impact Stories Impact Stories

Better data in Bradford

Richard Scholes provides an insightful overview of the implementation and impact of TPP’s SystmOne clinical software, while highlighting the challenges, successes, and transformative outcomes of using the software.

View post
News & Impact Stories News

Better Place’s Lovely Bug Ball

Over 200 families, with many young children dressed as ladybirds, bees, butterflies and mini beasts, attended Better Place's Lovely Bug Ball at Bowling Park on Sunday 16 March 2025.

View post
Project Learning library

Our Volunteer Heroes

Over 300 volunteers gave 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.

View project
Project Learning library

Sensory Art Adventures

Funded through the Happy Early Years (HEY!) Fund, Sensory Art Adventures provided sessions using various art activities for families with 0-3s and expectant parents.

View project
Project Learning library

Tiny Toes

Grandmother of 13, Shaheena received £2,500 to deliver a soft play group at Horton Park Primary School.

View project
Project Learning library

Toddle Ball

Toddle Ball received £1,705 to deliver fun and engaging football sessions for families with 0-3s.

View project
Project Learning library

Where The Wild Things Are

Where the Wild Things Are received £2,499 to deliver a six-week stay and learn group offering families with 0-3s the opportunity to meet live animals up close.

View project
News & Impact Stories News

Better Place Bradford Branching Out

Better Place successfully secured £656 to plant 15 trees at the toddler natural play areas at Bowling Park and Horton Park and at the Mayfield Centre Pocket Park.

View post
Project Resources and toolkits

Wonder Tots

Wonder Tots received £2,500 to offer a stay and learn group to give young children a head start before joining nursery education in a fun, interactive and safe environment.

View project
Project Resources and toolkits

Imagination Tree

Imagination Tree received £2,232 to deliver fun and playful sessions with creative storytelling activities by exploring different stories and bringing them to life with interactive play.

View project
Project Resources and toolkits

The Happy Early Years (HEY!) Fund

The Happy Early Years (HEY!) Fund enabled parents and carers in the Better Start Bradford area to apply for up to £2,500 to develop ideas and initiatives for local families and their 0-3s.

View project
Project Resources and toolkits

Happy Time

Happy Time received £2,346 to offer an educational outdoor group with various activities for parents and children including nature play, sensory play, messy play and much more.

View project
Project Resources and toolkits

Little Farmers

Little Farmers received £2,204 to offer various activities for children and parents, centred around learning about farm animals. Activities included crafts, dancing, messy play, rhymes, singing, stories and much more.

View project
Project Resources and toolkits

Thornbury Tots

Thornbury Tots received £2030 to offer various activities for children and parents, including soft play, sensory play, messy play, singing, dancing and exercise.

View project
Project Learning library

Little Minds Matter

Little Minds Matter is a specialised parent-infant relationship service working with infants, their families, and associated professional networks. It formed part of the Better Start Bradford programme from 2018 to 2024.

View project
Project Learning library

Born in Bradford’s Better Start (BiBBS)

Born in Bradford’s Better Start (BiBBS) is a birth cohort study that aims to understand the effects of the early-life interventions led by Better Start Bradford on children’s health and development.

View project
Project Learning library

ESOL for Pregnancy and ESOL with Infants

ESOL for Pregnancy was an embedded English course helping women develop their language skills. ESOL with Infants was a follow-on project helping parents and carers develop their language skills through sharing books.

View project
Project Learning library

Bradford Doulas

Acting as a ‘professional friend’, volunteer doulas helped pregnant women and birthing people navigate their pregnancy journey and make positive choices as part of the Better Start Bradford programme from 2017 to 2024.

View project
Project Learning library

Family Nurse Partnership

Family Nurse Partnership (FNP) is an evidence-based, preventative programme for first-time parents. It was delivered as part of the Better Start Bradford programme from 2016 to 2019.

View project
Project Learning library

MECSH

MECSH is a programme of regular home visits with the same Health Visitor. Originally developed in Australia, it was delivered as part of the Better Start Bradford programme from 2021 to 2023.

View project
Project Learning library

Innovation Fund

The Innovation Fund enabled organisations to pilot new, innovative approaches robustly over a period of a year, with potential for them to become a fully-fledged Better Start Bradford project.

View project
Project Learning library

Resilient Dads

Resilient Dads was a holistic personal development and parenting skills programme aiming to develop the skills and competence of dads/male carers to support the social, emotional, and cognitive development of their 0-3s.

View project
Project Learning library

The Play Gym and Hubert St Kitchen

The Play Gym and Hubert St. Kitchen provides a fun, free, creative play space for young children, and provides parents/carers the opportunity to access support, practical training and advice. 

View project
Project Learning library

Older Yet Wiser

Older Yet Wiser received funding to deliver a series of workshops for grandparents with child-caring responsibilities to help them contribute to their grandchildren’s social and emotional wellbeing.

View project
Project Learning library

Growing Together

Horton Community Farm and Grow To School joined forces to create their Growing Together project to bring parents/carers and young children together to learn to grow, cook and eat their own produce.

View project
Project Learning library

Enhancing the HABIT

The University of Leeds received funding to improve oral health for 0-3s to deliver their ‘Enhancing the HABIT’ oral health intervention with the area’s Health Visitors.

View project
Project Learning library

Better Place Bradford

The Better Place project has transformed parks and green spaces for the benefit of families with play equipment and facilities specifically designed for 0-3s, right across the Better Start Bradford area.

View project
Project Learning library

Breastfeeding Support Project

The Breastfeeding Support Project helped families meet their breastfeeding goals through trained, employed peer supporters. It was delivered as part of the Better Start Bradford programme from 2018 to 2024.

View project
Project Learning library

Incredible Years (Toddler Basic)

Incredible Years (Toddler Basic) is an established evidence-based parenting programme, promoting positive attachment. It was delivered as part of the Better Start Bradford programme from 2018 to 2024.

View project
Project Learning library

Home-Start Better Start

Home-Start Better Start is a peer support intervention, providing emotional and practical support to families with 0-3 year olds, and ran as part of the Better Start Bradford programme from 2017 to 2024.

View project
Project Learning library

HAPPY

HAPPY aimed to reduce childhood obesity risk by targeting an at-risk group - during and after pregnancy - by promoting healthy behaviours. It was part of the Better Start Bradford programme from 2018 to 2022.

View project
Project Learning library

Baby Steps

Baby Steps is a relationships-based perinatal parent education programme. It was delivered as part of the Better Start Bradford programme from 2018 to 2024.

View project
Project Learning library

I CAN

I CAN encompassed training sessions, guidance and support for childcare practitioners, designed to improve the language environment for young children attending early years settings.

View project
Project Learning library

Talking Together

Talking Together was designed to improve the home learning environment for children aged 2 who are at risk of language development delay, and formed part of the Better Start Bradford programme from 2015 to 2024.

View project
Project Learning library

HENRY Healthy Families

HENRY’s Healthy Families programme guides groups of parents and carers towards healthier habits for the whole family and was part of the Better Start Bradford programme from 2016 to 2024.

View project
Project Learning library

Forest School Play Project

The Forest School Play Project was an adventurous nature-based play programme that has brought an array of learning opportunities for young children, their families and the early years workforce

View project
Project Learning library

Cooking for a Better Start

Cooking for a Better Start offered practical cooking sessions to parents/carers of children aged 0-3 years, to build knowledge and skills around cooking low-cost, healthy meals from scratch, and healthy eating

View project
Project Learning library

Perinatal Support Service

The Perinatal Support Service helped pregnant women and women with babies who were suffering/at risk from mild-moderate mental health issues, from 2015 to 2024.

View project
Project Learning library

Better Start Imagine

Better Start Imagine gifted over 275,000 books to children aged 0-3 from 2016 to 2024, to promote and model the importance of sharing books with young children.

View project
Project News

Personalised Midwifery Project

Our Personalised Midwifery Project provided women and their families with personalised, continuous care before, during and after the birth of their baby. It ran from 2015 to 2024.

View project
Page Evaluation and impact library

Hooray for Play: 18 November 2024

Health and early years professionals from across the Bradford district got together to discuss the value that play has on so many aspects of babies and children’s development, health, wellbeing and happiness.

View page
News & Impact Stories News

Better Place on Tour

Over the past couple of months, the Better Place team have been taking local families with 0-3s outside of the Better Start Bradford area to inspire and stimulate their creativity and outdoor experiences.

View post
Event Activities for parents / carers with children

Wood Workshops (Bradford Moor Park)

Thursday 19th March 2026 @ 12:30 pm – 2:30 pm –

Join the Better Place team for outdoor fun for families with children aged 0-4 at the natural play area at parks in the Better Start Bradford area.

View event
Event Activities for parents / carers with children

Wood Workshops (Bradford Moor Park)

Thursday 23rd April 2026 @ 12:30 pm – 2:30 pm –

Join the Better Place team for outdoor fun for families with children aged 0-4 at the natural play area at parks in the Better Start Bradford area.

View event
News & Impact Stories Impact Stories

Getting outdoors with twins

Mum of three-year-old twins, Ahwasia, found it quite daunting getting out and about, but thanks to the organised activities set up by Better Place, she decided to give it a go and never looked back!

View post
Project Impact Stories

Neighbourhoods Project

The Neighbourhoods Project ran from 2019 to 2024 to optimise recruitment into Better Start Bradford projects from under-represented groups, and to ensure that the programme messages reached as many families as possible.

View project