New workshops from group which met Royal couple

Liz Ranson and Judith Shalkowski, co-founders of ChildsSide, which delivers Older Yet Wiser, were thrilled to meet the Royal couple back in January 2020.

Judith said: “The Duchess told us that Charles and Camilla are very hands on grandparents, which we were thrilled to hear.

"She also shared her lack of skill at knitting, telling us that she had attempted to knit a special jumper while pregnant with George only for it to ‘splatter’ when she had got halfway down.

“The role that the wider family, especially grandparents, play in the healthy development of our children is so important, and we would love to welcome grandparents to our next workshop sessions starting on March 3.”

Maryiam Ahmed, whose 18-month old granddaughter Sorayah, was held by the Duchess throughout her visit to Better Start Bradford, said: “I was absolutely thrilled when our Older Yet Wiser group got the chance to meet the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge.

"Even my family members in Pakistan saw the photos of Princess Kate holding Sorayah. I was so blown away by her, she was so lovely.

“The Older Yet Wiser grandparenting course was really interesting – in fact it was so good I have done it twice.

"I learned how important the first few years of development are on the growing brain and was quite shocked at the massive impact outside factors have on baby’s brains.”

Older Yet Wiser’s grandparenting workshops were put on hold during the pandemic until they could safely be delivered face-to-face in the Better Start Bradford communities of Bowling and Barkerend, Bradford Moor and Little Horton.

The next group of workshops start on at the LIFE Centre on Wapping Road on March 3. Ring ChildsSide on 07759 470199 or email info@childsside.com to find out more.

Older Yet Wiser is funded through Better Start Bradford’s Innovation Fund.

The workshops educate grandparents on the importance of the developing brain in babies and how they can help to give their grandchildren the best start in life.