TEN parents in Bradford are celebrating winning a share of £20,000 to run initiatives for expectant parents and families with 0-3s living in the Better Start Bradford area.

Communities living in Bowling and Barkerend, Bradford Moor and Little Horton will have access to a range of brand-new initiatives including pregnancy yoga classes, antenatal well-being groups, new stay-and-play sessions, mobile soft play equipment, and school preparation sessions for toddlers.

Thanks to funding of £2,200, grandmother, Shaheena can hire mobile soft play equipment including a ball pool, slide, sensory toys for babies and toddlers to access over 12 weeks at Horton Park Primary School each week.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Baby at Stay and Play sessions in 2022. Image: Better Start Bradford Baby at Stay and Play sessions in 2022. Image: Better Start Bradford (Image: Better Start Bradford)

Shaheena, 65, said: “I am extremely proud to be awarded the Happy Early Years funding and I am excited about connecting with families and the community through this amazing opportunity”.

Mum of three, Nadia, 36, felt very lonely in her third pregnancy - until she got out to a local stay and play group and was inspired to apply for funding to set up a group for new expectant mums, who don’t have English as a first language.

Nadia said: “I feel so excited to have been awarded this money to be able to set up the Happy Mama group. It will be lovely to reach out to expectant mums who are feeling anxious and isolated through lack of social interaction and barriers to language and know that they are not on their own.”

Gill Thornton, Programme Manager, Better Start Bradford said: “The Happy Early Years Fund means local parents, carers and expectant parents can take ownership and deliver their own initiatives for 0-3s in Better Start Bradford area, while developing their own skills and confidence by bringing their ideas to life.

“It is heart-warming to see such a wide range of new initiatives, supporting such a diverse range of our community.”

The Happy Early Years Fund places local parents and carers at the heart of the decision making, with a parent–led panel deciding which applications to support. Funding of between £500 and £2,500, per application, is available for the next two years.

The Happy Early Years (HEY!) Fund was officially launched by the Lord Mayor, Councillor Martin Love in September 2022.

The Happy Early Years Fund replaces Better Start Bradford’s Parents in the Lead Activities Fund, which awarded a total of over £160,000 to over 100 parent-led projects between April 2017 and October 2021.

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