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Read the June 2025 edition of News Update

Find out all about the future for Better Start Bradford and the stone family sculpture that now stands proud and represents thosands of people that have been supported between 2015-2025.

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Event Activities for parents / carers with children

Rhythmic Gymnastics (Bradford Moor Park)

Wednesday 23rd July 2025 @ 12:00 pm – 1:30 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
Event Activities for parents / carers with children

Rhythmic Gymnastics (Peel Park)

Wednesday 23rd July 2025 @ 10:00 am – 11:30 am –

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
Event Activities for parents / carers with children

Rhythmic Gymnastics (Bowling Park)

Friday 25th July 2025 @ 10:00 am – 11:30 am –

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
Event Activities for parents / carers with children

Grow with Maryam (Peel Park)

Tuesday 8th July 2025 @ 1:00 pm – 3:00 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
Event Activities for parents / carers with children

Grow with Maryam (Peel Park)

Tuesday 15th July 2025 @ 1:00 pm – 3:00 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
Event Activities for parents / carers with children

Grow with Maryam (Peel Park)

Tuesday 22nd July 2025 @ 1:00 pm – 3:00 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
Event Activities for parents / carers with children

Wood Workshops (Laisterdyke Library Garden)

Thursday 10th July 2025 @ 12:30 pm – 2:30 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
Event Activities for parents / carers with children

Wood Workshops (Laisterdyke Library Garden)

Thursday 24th July 2025 @ 12:30 pm – 2:30 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
Event Activities for parents / carers with children

Wood Workshops (Laisterdyke Library Garden)

Thursday 14th August 2025 @ 12:30 pm – 2:30 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
Event Activities for parents / carers with children

Wood Workshops (Laisterdyke Library Garden)

Thursday 11th September 2025 @ 12:30 pm – 2:30 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
Event Activities for parents / carers with children

Wood Workshops (Laisterdyke Library Garden)

Thursday 25th September 2025 @ 12:30 pm – 2:30 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
Event Activities for parents / carers with children

Wood Workshops (Laisterdyke Library Garden)

Thursday 9th October 2025 @ 12:30 pm – 2:30 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
Event Activities for parents / carers with children

Wood Workshops (Laisterdyke Library Garden)

Thursday 23rd October 2025 @ 12:30 pm – 2:30 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
Event Activities for parents / carers with children

Busy Bugs (Bradford Moor Park)

Thursday 17th July 2025 @ 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
Event Activities for parents / carers with children

Busy Bugs (Bradford Moor Park)

Thursday 31st July 2025 @ 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
Event Activities for parents / carers with children

Busy Bugs (Bradford Moor Park)

Thursday 7th August 2025 @ 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
Event Activities for parents / carers with children

Busy Bugs (Bradford Moor Park)

Thursday 14th August 2025 @ 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
Event Activities for parents / carers with children

Igniting Imagination (Bradford Moor Park)

Thursday 10th July 2025 @ 11:00 am – 1:00 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
Event Activities for parents / carers with children

Igniting Imagination (Bradford Moor Park)

Thursday 24th July 2025 @ 11:00 am – 1:00 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
Event Activities for parents / carers with children

Igniting Imagination (Peel Park)

Thursday 7th August 2025 @ 11:00 am – 1:00 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
Event Activities for parents / carers with children

Igniting Imagination (Peel Park)

Thursday 28th August 2025 @ 11:00 am – 1:00 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
Event Activities for parents / carers with children

Igniting Imagination (Peel Park)

Thursday 11th September 2025 @ 11:00 am – 1:00 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
Event Activities for parents / carers with children

Igniting Imagination (Peel Park)

Thursday 25th September 2025 @ 11:00 am – 1:00 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
Event Activities for parents / carers with children

Igniting Imagination (Peel Park)

Thursday 9th October 2025 @ 11:00 am – 1:00 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
Event Activities for parents / carers with children

Nurture Nature Outdoor Play Session – Horton Park

Tuesday 22nd July 2025 @ 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
Event Activities for parents / carers with children

Nurture Nature Outdoor Play Session – Horton Park

Tuesday 8th July 2025 @ 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 News

Better Place’s Lovely Bug Ball

Tanya is one of our Home-Start Better Start volunteers. Here she shares how volunteering has increased her confidence and helped her with her own anxiety issues.

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Project Poster

Our Volunteer Heroes

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.

View project
Project Poster

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 Poster

Tiny Toes

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

View project
Project Poster

Toddle Ball

Toddle Ball received £1,705 to deliver fun and engaging football sessions for families with 0-4s.

View project
Project Poster

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 0-4s the opportunity to meet live animals up close.

View project
News & Impact Stories News

Better Place Bradford Branching Out

Tanya is one of our Home-Start Better Start volunteers. Here she shares how volunteering has increased her confidence and helped her with her own anxiety issues.

View post
Project Toolkit

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 Toolkit

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 Toolkit

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 Toolkit

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 Toolkit

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 Toolkit

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 Report

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 Report

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 Report

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 Report

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 Report

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 Report

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 Report

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 Report

Resilient Dads

Resilient Dads is 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.

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Project Report

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. 

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Project Report

Older Yet Wiser

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

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Project Report

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.

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Project Report

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.

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Project Report

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.

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Project Report

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.

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Project Report

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.

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Project Report

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.

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Project Report

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.

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Project Report

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.

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Project News

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.

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Project News

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.

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Project News

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.

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Project News

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

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Project News

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

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Project News

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.

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Project News

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.

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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.

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News & Impact Stories News

Catch up with our January newsletter

Watch the Better Place project's new film, find out about how we're developing the future workforce, and read the latest insight report from our national partnership

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Page Report

Family Hubs and Start for Life

Across the Bradford district, Family Hubs support families with children and young people of all ages and at every stage of family life. Start for Life provides extra support to families with young children.

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Page Report

Talking Bradford

Talking Bradford is a step-by-step guide to help parents and carers support their young children with speech, language and communication development.

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News & Impact Stories News

Happy New Year 2025 from Gill

Our Director, Gill Thornton, kicks off our news articles for 2025 with her reflections of 2024 and enthusiasm and excitement for the journey this final year of our programme will take

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News & Impact Stories News

Explore our December newsletter

Look back at Baby Week Bradford 2024, find out about some fantastic funding news from some of our projects, and enjoy some articles and recent learning webinars

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News & Impact Stories News

Better Place on Tour

Tanya is one of our Home-Start Better Start volunteers. Here she shares how volunteering has increased her confidence and helped her with her own anxiety issues.

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Page Webinar

12 Shining Moments

From a range of outdoor play ideas to healthy snack ideas to guidance from Early Years experts, there should be something to help and inspire everyone.

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Event Activities for parents / carers with children

Rhythmic Gymnastics (Horton Park)

Friday 25th July 2025 @ 12:00 pm – 1:30 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
Page Poster

Baby Week Bradford 2024

We invite you all to make room for play from 14-20 November for Baby Week Bradford 2024! Programme of event and activities now live...

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News & Impact Stories Impact Stories

Getting outdoors with twins!

Tanya is one of our Home-Start Better Start volunteers. Here she shares how volunteering has increased her confidence and helped her with her own anxiety issues.

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Project Impact Stories

Neighbourhoods Project

The Neighbourhoods Project ran from 2019 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.

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Page Video

Baby Week Bradford

Baby Week Bradford began in 2018. Find out more about this annual celebration of babies and all those who care for them, and look back at previous years' activities and resources.

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Page Video

You Are Your Baby’s Best Toy

Everything you do together helps your baby’s brain develop. It’s never too early to start - from bump, to babies to toddlers. Your baby even recognises family voices before they are born.

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News & Impact Stories Impact Stories

My doula journey

Tanya is one of our Home-Start Better Start volunteers. Here she shares how volunteering has increased her confidence and helped her with her own anxiety issues.

View post
News & Impact Stories News

Read the June 2025 edition of News Update

Find out all about the future for Better Start Bradford and the stone family sculpture that now stands proud and represents thosands of people that have been supported between 2015-2025.

View post
Event Activities for parents / carers with children

Rhythmic Gymnastics (Bradford Moor Park)

Wednesday 23rd July 2025 @ 12:00 pm – 1:30 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
Event Activities for parents / carers with children

Rhythmic Gymnastics (Peel Park)

Wednesday 23rd July 2025 @ 10:00 am – 11:30 am –

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
Event Activities for parents / carers with children

Rhythmic Gymnastics (Bowling Park)

Friday 25th July 2025 @ 10:00 am – 11:30 am –

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
Event Activities for parents / carers with children

Grow with Maryam (Peel Park)

Tuesday 8th July 2025 @ 1:00 pm – 3:00 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
Event Activities for parents / carers with children

Grow with Maryam (Peel Park)

Tuesday 15th July 2025 @ 1:00 pm – 3:00 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
Event Activities for parents / carers with children

Grow with Maryam (Peel Park)

Tuesday 22nd July 2025 @ 1:00 pm – 3:00 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
Event Activities for parents / carers with children

Wood Workshops (Laisterdyke Library Garden)

Thursday 10th July 2025 @ 12:30 pm – 2:30 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
Event Activities for parents / carers with children

Wood Workshops (Laisterdyke Library Garden)

Thursday 24th July 2025 @ 12:30 pm – 2:30 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
Event Activities for parents / carers with children

Wood Workshops (Laisterdyke Library Garden)

Thursday 14th August 2025 @ 12:30 pm – 2:30 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
Event Activities for parents / carers with children

Wood Workshops (Laisterdyke Library Garden)

Thursday 11th September 2025 @ 12:30 pm – 2:30 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
Event Activities for parents / carers with children

Wood Workshops (Laisterdyke Library Garden)

Thursday 25th September 2025 @ 12:30 pm – 2:30 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
Event Activities for parents / carers with children

Wood Workshops (Laisterdyke Library Garden)

Thursday 9th October 2025 @ 12:30 pm – 2:30 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
Event Activities for parents / carers with children

Wood Workshops (Laisterdyke Library Garden)

Thursday 23rd October 2025 @ 12:30 pm – 2:30 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
Event Activities for parents / carers with children

Busy Bugs (Bradford Moor Park)

Thursday 17th July 2025 @ 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
Event Activities for parents / carers with children

Busy Bugs (Bradford Moor Park)

Thursday 31st July 2025 @ 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
Event Activities for parents / carers with children

Busy Bugs (Bradford Moor Park)

Thursday 7th August 2025 @ 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
Event Activities for parents / carers with children

Busy Bugs (Bradford Moor Park)

Thursday 14th August 2025 @ 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
Event Activities for parents / carers with children

Igniting Imagination (Bradford Moor Park)

Thursday 10th July 2025 @ 11:00 am – 1:00 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
Event Activities for parents / carers with children

Igniting Imagination (Bradford Moor Park)

Thursday 24th July 2025 @ 11:00 am – 1:00 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
Event Activities for parents / carers with children

Igniting Imagination (Peel Park)

Thursday 7th August 2025 @ 11:00 am – 1:00 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
Event Activities for parents / carers with children

Igniting Imagination (Peel Park)

Thursday 28th August 2025 @ 11:00 am – 1:00 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
Event Activities for parents / carers with children

Igniting Imagination (Peel Park)

Thursday 11th September 2025 @ 11:00 am – 1:00 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
Event Activities for parents / carers with children

Igniting Imagination (Peel Park)

Thursday 25th September 2025 @ 11:00 am – 1:00 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
Event Activities for parents / carers with children

Igniting Imagination (Peel Park)

Thursday 9th October 2025 @ 11:00 am – 1:00 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
Event Activities for parents / carers with children

Nurture Nature Outdoor Play Session – Horton Park

Tuesday 22nd July 2025 @ 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
Event Activities for parents / carers with children

Nurture Nature Outdoor Play Session – Horton Park

Tuesday 8th July 2025 @ 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 News

Better Place’s Lovely Bug Ball

Tanya is one of our Home-Start Better Start volunteers. Here she shares how volunteering has increased her confidence and helped her with her own anxiety issues.

View post
Project Poster

Our Volunteer Heroes

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.

View project
Project Poster

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 Poster

Tiny Toes

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

View project
Project Poster

Toddle Ball

Toddle Ball received £1,705 to deliver fun and engaging football sessions for families with 0-4s.

View project
Project Poster

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 0-4s the opportunity to meet live animals up close.

View project
News & Impact Stories News

Better Place Bradford Branching Out

Tanya is one of our Home-Start Better Start volunteers. Here she shares how volunteering has increased her confidence and helped her with her own anxiety issues.

View post
Project Toolkit

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 Toolkit

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 Toolkit

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 Toolkit

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 Toolkit

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 Toolkit

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 Report

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 Report

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 Report

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 Report

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 Report

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 Report

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 Report

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.

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Project Report

Resilient Dads

Resilient Dads is 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.

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Project Report

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. 

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Project Report

Older Yet Wiser

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

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Project Report

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.

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Project Report

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.

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Project Report

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.

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Project Report

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.

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Project Report

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.

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Project Report

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.

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Project Report

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.

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Project Report

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.

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Project News

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.

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Project News

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.

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Project News

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.

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Project News

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

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Project News

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

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Project News

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.

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Project News

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.

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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.

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News & Impact Stories News

Catch up with our January newsletter

Watch the Better Place project's new film, find out about how we're developing the future workforce, and read the latest insight report from our national partnership

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Page Report

Family Hubs and Start for Life

Across the Bradford district, Family Hubs support families with children and young people of all ages and at every stage of family life. Start for Life provides extra support to families with young children.

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Page Report

Talking Bradford

Talking Bradford is a step-by-step guide to help parents and carers support their young children with speech, language and communication development.

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News & Impact Stories News

Happy New Year 2025 from Gill

Our Director, Gill Thornton, kicks off our news articles for 2025 with her reflections of 2024 and enthusiasm and excitement for the journey this final year of our programme will take

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News & Impact Stories News

Explore our December newsletter

Look back at Baby Week Bradford 2024, find out about some fantastic funding news from some of our projects, and enjoy some articles and recent learning webinars

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News & Impact Stories News

Better Place on Tour

Tanya is one of our Home-Start Better Start volunteers. Here she shares how volunteering has increased her confidence and helped her with her own anxiety issues.

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Page Webinar

12 Shining Moments

From a range of outdoor play ideas to healthy snack ideas to guidance from Early Years experts, there should be something to help and inspire everyone.

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Event Activities for parents / carers with children

Rhythmic Gymnastics (Horton Park)

Friday 25th July 2025 @ 12:00 pm – 1:30 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.

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Page Poster

Baby Week Bradford 2024

We invite you all to make room for play from 14-20 November for Baby Week Bradford 2024! Programme of event and activities now live...

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News & Impact Stories Impact Stories

Getting outdoors with twins!

Tanya is one of our Home-Start Better Start volunteers. Here she shares how volunteering has increased her confidence and helped her with her own anxiety issues.

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Project Impact Stories

Neighbourhoods Project

The Neighbourhoods Project ran from 2019 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.

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Page Video

Baby Week Bradford

Baby Week Bradford began in 2018. Find out more about this annual celebration of babies and all those who care for them, and look back at previous years' activities and resources.

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Page Video

You Are Your Baby’s Best Toy

Everything you do together helps your baby’s brain develop. It’s never too early to start - from bump, to babies to toddlers. Your baby even recognises family voices before they are born.

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News & Impact Stories Impact Stories

My doula journey

Tanya is one of our Home-Start Better Start volunteers. Here she shares how volunteering has increased her confidence and helped her with her own anxiety issues.

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