DADS are getting together to get Bradford’s children off to the best possible start in life.

Community engagement project Better Start Bradford, has just had the first of a series of workshops to get more dads involved in the innovative partnership programme it is running in the city.

Dads who turned up to the recent workshop met to discuss and explore the themes of bonding, health and sports.

Another workshop on January 28 will focus on communication, literacy and faith.

Any dads interested in joining in can now book a place by visiting betterstartbradford.org.uk/events.

Nearly 20 dads turned up to the first one led by parenting experts where they also

picked up top tips.

Gill Thornton, Better Start Bradford programme manager said: “The workshop for dads was really successful with lots of enthusiastic discussion about what being a dad in Bradford means.

“Better Start Bradford is setting up 22 projects to support families in getting children off to a great start, and many of these are aimed at mums, dads and whole families.

“But it is important that we specifically work to engage dads and get their perspectives. When we think about parenting we often automatically think about mums, but of course dads have a critical role to play, and sometimes they don’t have it easy getting the support and information they need.”

She added: “We want to make sure all parents and carers with babies, toddlers and bumps have the chance to come together and get the right information and support. We heard some fascinating insights from local dads that we’ll be taking forward as we develop our programme.”

The workshops were also praised by the dads who attended including Suihaib Ahmed who said: “I wish I’d known some of these things earlier and been able to do some of these things with my children from a younger age.”

Better Start Bradford is a ten-year Lottery funded programme working in the Little Horton, Bowling and Barkerend and Bradford Moor areas supporting literacy and communication, health and nutrition, and social and emotional development.

It is one of five A Better Start programmes around the country, aiming to leave a lasting legacy for Bradford families and to share good practice nationally.

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