BORN in Bradford has returned to Bradford city centre this week to encourage more local families to get involved in the study, a decade since it began.

Members of the study will be in the Kirkgate shopping centre throughout the day this week speaking to people about the groundbreaking studies BiB: Growing Up, and Born in Bradford’s Better Start.

The study, which is celebrating its tenth anniversary this year, is the UK’s largest study into the health of babies, and has involved around 13,500 children from across the district.

Since it began in 2007, it has provided new insights into the health of babies and primary school children that have been shared across the world.

Staff from Born in Bradford will be in the centre until Friday, from 11.30am until 1.30pm, and will be asking families to take part in its two studies.

BiB: Growing Up is a study designed to collect information on the health and wellbeing of Bradford families in order to improve health services and develop research.

The second study, Better Start, is a new programme working with families in the Bowling and Barkerend, Bradford Moor, and Little Horton wards, aiming to help give children the best possible start in life by supporting and informing families expecting babies or those with children aged four and under.

Dr Rosie McEachan, director of Born in Bradford, said: “We’re looking forward to signing up more participants for our studies.

“Our findings have already helped and educated thousands of families across the city and we plan on continuing our work long into the future.

“Kirkgate Shopping has been most supportive of our activity and we’re delighted to be working with them once again.

“It’s easy to get involved, all we’re asking is for people to come chat to us on the mall!”

Catherine Riley, centre manager at Kirkgate Shopping, added: “We welcome Born in Bradford back to the centre after their successful tenth anniversary celebration back in April.

Their studies are so important in developing the health services and overall well-being of families in our city.

“As a long-established business in the city we make it a key priority to support the next generation, particularly when it comes to their health.”

The Born in Bradford stall will be situated outside the Primark clothes store in the centre this week.

Since it began last year, more than 1,000 families have signed up to be a part of the Better Start programme, with more than 700 babies being born.

Some of the targets of the study include, assessing the determinants of childhood and adult disease, assessing the impact of migration, exploring the influences of pregnancy and childbirth on subsequent health, and generating and testing hypotheses that have the potential to improve health for some of the most disadvantaged within our society.

If you cannot make it to Kirkgate this week but want to get involved with the study, call 01274 364474.