Better Start Better Futures

03/07/2026

Are you a parent, carer or grandparent in the Bradford district? Are you interested in shaping and influencing early years systems and services?

We are looking for parents, carers and grandparents who are passionate about their community to join our CoRE Partnership. Your voice and experiences will help to influence how services for children aged 0-5 are designed and delivered.

Why not come along to our next meeting to find out more?
Taking place:

📅Wednesday 8th July,
🕙10:00 am to 12:00pm
📍at Strong Close Nursery, Keighley, BD21 4LW.

Time and travel expenses are reimbursed!

📧Email [email protected] or
📲call 07727 378984 to find out more and book your spot.

We’d love to have you!



The VCS Alliance Community Action Bradford & District CNet Bradford Best Start in Life Born in Bradford's Better Start Born in Bradford Baby Week UK Better Place Bradford

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03/07/2026

📢 Better Start – Better Futures was proud to attend the School Health Hub Showcase event in Bradford.

This pilot, running since March 2025, brings together partners including Alliance for Life Chances, Dixons Academies Charitable Trust, Oastlers School, Centre for Applied Education Research, Citizens UK and Bradford District Care NHS Foundation Trust Children's Services to deliver earlier support and better health outcomes for children and young people, directly within the school setting.

🤝 As an organisation committed to giving children and families across Bradford District the best possible start in life, it was fantastic to hear the learning from this joint delivery model, from the benefits for pupils and families through to the practicalities of scaling and sustaining this kind of partnership working.

It was fantastic to be one of the first to receive their interim report and listen to the story of the pilot scheme in Bradford

Did you manage to see our very own Gill Thornton representing our newly formed BS-BF Programme?

31/03/2026

That’s really all folks! The Better Start Bradford office door closed for the final time today!

Thank you so much to everyone who has been part of the Better Start Bradford journey.

And what a journey it has been and all documented on a brand new section of the Better Start Bradford legacy website, helpfully called ‘Our Journey’

https://www.betterstartbradford.org.uk/our-journey/

It’s now over to you! We need you to continue the work: to continue championing the first 1001 critical days, to consider the voice of the child in your work, to continue empowering communities, and continue the learning.

To help, you can:

• Use our toolkits
• Explore our extensive evaluation, learning and resource library

Please also keep an eye out for Better Start – Better Futures: A From Conception through Reception Evidence (CoRE) Partnership, which brings Bradford community members and system leaders together to embed best practice and create sustainable early years improvements.

https://www.betterstartbradford.org.uk/

30/03/2026

Our final ever News Update has now been released and is landing in inboxes.

We’re incredibly grateful to everyone who has subscribed over the years and championed the work of Better Start Bradford 💛

In this final edition, you’ll find:

💬 A farewell from Director Gill Thornton
🎙 Launch of the Earliest Years of Life podcast
🔢 A 2015–2025 statistical overview of our impact
🌐 A legacy website full of learning, evidence and reports
🛠 A roundup of practical toolkits
🔮 A look ahead to Better Start… Better Futures

If you haven’t received your copy, you can read it here: https://bit.ly/4bF5fQO

Thank you for being part of the journey.

26/03/2026

This is wonderful news Bradford United Dads.

We are beyond thrilled that this Dads led group originally set up through our Happy Early Years (HEY!) Fund has been able to sustain its activities and services long beyond the life of Better Start Bradford.

Huge congratulations.

25/03/2026

🎙️ Are you ready? After 10 years - this is our final ever podcast episode and honestly… it’s an emotional listen.

In this final 'Stories of Impact' episode, we’re joined by:

✨ Matt Riddell (The National Lottery Community Fund)
✨ Gill Thornton (Director, Better Start Bradford)
✨ Josie Dickerson (Director, Better Start Bradford Innovation Hub)
✨ Vipin Joshi (community representative & Partnership Board Chair)

Together, they reflect on a decade of learning, change, and what comes next.

But more than anything, this episode is about people - the real stories that stayed with us long after the microphones switched off.

We won’t lie… this one might make you emotional.

Thank you to everyone who has listened, shared, and been part of this journey 💙

The podcast may be ending, but the impact will continue.

🎧 Listen to the final episode here: https://www.betterstartbradford.org.uk/earliest-years-of-life-podcast/

20/03/2026

🌙✨Eid Mubarak to our wonderful community ❤️

🌙✨ Eid Mubarak to all our families celebrating! ✨🌙

Wishing you joy, togetherness, and special moments with your little ones this Eid 💛

This year, alongside your celebrations, why not give something that lasts a little longer…

🌿 A day outdoors in nature – exploring places like Baildon Moor, Shipley Glen, Haworth or Pen*stone Hill Country Park
👨‍👩‍👧‍👦 A shared experience with family and friends
💪 A little challenge that helps you grow
🌍 Or a journey your children will remember for years to come

You could even make a day of it at the upcoming Team Wilder Action for Nature Day at Lotherton 🦋 on March 25th with Yorkshire Wildlife Trust

However you choose to celebrate, we hope your Eid is filled with laughter, love, and meaningful moments together 💫

17/03/2026

🎙️ NEW PODCAST EPISODE OUT NOW!

⏳ With just two weeks to go until the Better Start Bradford programme comes to an end, we’re sharing some of our final pieces of learning, stories and reflections 💚

In our latest Early Years Workforce Podcast, Zakra and Kerry talk all about the people behind those early years—and why they matter so much.

In this episode, we chat about:

🔵What makes a great early years practitioner
🔵Why play is powerful (for children AND adults!)
🔵Different career paths into early years
🔵How we can inspire the next generation to join the sector
🔵The importance of supporting both new and experienced staff

With insights from Charlotte Woodhouse, Vikki Carter (University of Bradford), and Julie Adamson (Bradford College), this conversation highlights the power of collaboration across sectors and why investing in people is key to giving every child the best start in life.

As we wrap up the programme, we’re proud to share the amazing work, partnerships and learning that will continue to make a difference.

🎧 Have a listen and let us know what you think!

https://www.betterstartbradford.org.uk/earliest-years-of-life-podcast/