Better Start Bradford

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/

12/03/2026

💖 Today we held our final Board meeting as Better Start Bradford.

What made the Better Start Bradford Partnership Board so special was the genuine collaboration between our community and early years partners across the public and voluntary sectors.

From the very beginning, the programme team committed to working alongside our community – especially parents. They weren’t just consulted; they helped shape the design, delivery and direction of the programme.

Better Start Bradford became one of the few programmes to create an equal partnership between parents, community representatives and system leaders right from the start. And it proved to be the right decision.

Instead of systems telling communities what they thought was best, communities were able to say:
“This is what we believe will work for Bradford.”

That mutual respect meant partners learned from the community, and the community learned from partners. And that’s what made the work meaningful, impactful and real.

🙏 A huge thank you to everyone who has been part of the Better Start Bradford Board over the years – community representatives, parents, system leaders and partners across organisations. Your commitment, honesty and willingness to work differently made this partnership what it was.

📑 As this chapter closes, the legacy of genuine partnership, shared power and community voice is something we can all be proud of.

12/03/2026

Baby Week Bradford 2015–2025: The Adventure So Far 👶🎉

Over the past decade, Baby Week UK has become a powerful way to celebrate babies, support families, and bring organisations together around the importance of the earliest years.

Our publication, Baby Week Bradford: The Adventure So Far, shares the story of our journey and the learning we’ve gained along the way. Part story, part practical toolkit, it’s designed for anyone involved in Baby Week – or thinking about starting one in their own area.

Inside you’ll find:

✨ The history and purpose of Baby Week nationally and in Bradford
✨ Highlights from eight years as lead organisation for the Bradford district
✨ The key ingredients of a successful Baby Week
✨ The impact and benefits we’ve seen locally
✨ Our Top 10 tips for delivering a Baby Week

Whether you’re a practitioner, community group, or local leader passionate about the earliest years, we hope it inspires you.

📖 Read the publication here:

https://www.betterstartbradford.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/11/Baby-Week-Bradford-The-Adventure-So-Far-Nov-25-Digital.pdf

11/03/2026

🎧 New Podcast Episode: Community Engagement and Co-Production

What happens when parents, carers and communities are not just consulted – but truly share the power to design services?

🎙In our latest episode of our Earliest Years of Life Podcast, we explore why community engagement and co-production are essential to improving outcomes for babies and families in the earliest years of life.

Hear from:

👤 Gill Thornton – Director, Better Start Bradford
👤 Shahid Islam – Principal Research Fellow, Born in Bradford
👤 Shummel Uddin – Family and Community Engagement Manager, Better Start Bradford

Together they discuss:

✨ Why communities must help shape services from the very beginning
✨ How co-design and inclusive approaches build trust
✨ Real stories of impact – including how engaging dads and male carers is strengthening families and communities
✨ Practical lessons from over 10 years of community-led work in Bradford

💡 If you work with families in the early years, this episode is packed with insight and inspiration.

🎧 Listen now: https://uniqo.de/FWPRt9

Alongside the podcast, explore our practical resources:

🛠 Co-production with Families Toolkit
🛠 Engaging Dads and Male Carers Toolkit

👀 https://www.betterstartbradford.org.uk/tools-resources/

10/03/2026

🎉 Exciting news! One of our mahoosive Big Little Moments jigsaw has officially taken pride of place at the Bevan Family Hub in Bradford City Centre!

A huge thank you to the incredibly talented Simon from Fearless People, who has now created five giant Big Little Moments jigsaws. These will be placed in Family Hubs across the Bradford District, giving families with young children something fun and meaningful to enjoy for years to come.

Each piece of the jigsaw is packed with little discoveries. Scan the QR codes on the pieces and you’ll be taken into the world of Big Little Moments, where you can explore simple, everyday moments you can share with your child. Every one of these moments is an opportunity to help build and develop your child’s brain.

Want to learn more about Big Little Moments? Take a look here:
https://www.betterstartbradford.org.uk/biglittlemoments/

FYI Bradford District
Bradford West Family Hub
Keighley and Shipley Family Hub
Bradford South Family Hub
Bradford East Family Hub
The National Lottery Community Fund
National Children's Bureau
Better Start Blackpool

09/03/2026

✨ Have you had chance to listen to our latest series of the Earliest Years of Life podcasts? 🎙️

We know with absolute conviction that the earliest months and years of life shape everything that follows.

That’s why we’re back with the second series of the Earliest Years of Life podcast which explores how babies’ early experiences build the foundations for lifelong health, learning and wellbeing.

Hosted by Zakra Yasin, with 15 years’ experience supporting Bradford’s babies and families, and Kerry Bennett, Assistant Director of Better Start Bradford (with a background in health visiting and children’s nursing), this series brings together leading voices from health, research, community engagement and early years practice.

Across five powerful episodes, Zakra and Kerry explore:

👶 The crucial role of Health Visitors
🌱 The Better Start Bradford Baby journey
🤝 Community engagement and co-production
🎓 Developing a skilled early years workforce
💛 Stories of impact from 10 years of A Better Start

With expert guests including leaders from Better Start Bradford, the Institute of Health Visiting, Born in Bradford, The National Lottery Community Fund, and international researchers, this series shines a light on what it really takes to give every child the best start in life.

If you care about babies, families, early years services, or tackling inequalities - this series is for you.

🎧 Listen now and join the conversation.

https://uniqo.de/FWPRt9