Bradford Children and Families Trust (BCFT) warmly welcomed the Rt Honourable Dame Andrea Leadsom DBE and colleagues from The 1001 Critical Days Foundation on Tuesday 11 March 2025.
Dame Andrea, Former Early Years Adviser and Minister for Start for Life, has recently established The 1001 Critical Days Foundation which aims to provide grant funding to charities that provide support for the first 1001 days (pregnancy to aged 2). The Foundation also commissions research into what works best in the early years sector.
Dame Andrea spent the day visiting four Family Hubs and met with Trust staff and partners from health, charities and voluntary organisations to get a holistic picture of the support on offer across the district. Local parents shared their experiences of using the Family Hubs for a range of services and support, including dads, who take part in programmes such as the Family Links Nurturing Programme and Dad Matters.
Family Hubs support families at all stages of family life from pregnancy right up until their child is 19, or 25 if the young person has a special educational need. There are a varied programme of activities and support on offer, which can include Health Visitor and Midwife Clinics, sensory rooms, coffee mornings and chit-chat groups.
Susan Claydon, Assistant Director, Early Help & Transformation, at Bradford Children and Families Trust said:
“We were delighted to welcome Dame Andrea back to Bradford and show her around our Family Hubs, which provide a warm welcome and valuable support for local children and families.
“It was a great opportunity to highlight the broad range of support and services on offer for our local communities and the benefits that come from organisations working together and alongside children, young people and families to prioritise an early help approach.”
Following the visit, The Rt Hon Dame Andrea Leadsom DBE said:
“I was delighted to be back in Bradford to see how the family hubs, now in their fourth year, are supporting local families. Having a new baby can be joyful but also exhausting – providing help and advice is vital so that every baby experiences the best start.
“It was great to meet the hard-working family hub staff who are so committed to supporting every family.”
For information about what’s on at the Family Hubs please visit www.fyi.bradford.gov.uk