BRADFORD will receive over £5 million to help the district’s children and their families in the first years of their life.

Bradford is one of 75 Councils set to benefit from the government’s Family Hubs Start for Life programme.

The focus of the funding will be to aid expectant families in the run up to birth and the child’s first two years.

At a meeting of the Bradford East Area Committee on Monday, Councillors were given an update on what the funding should be spent on.

Mother’s mental health, advice on breast feeding and support for developing language skills as early as possible will all be schemes funded through the scheme.

Lisa Brett, Head of Service for Early Help and Prevention told members that Bradford’s bid to be part of the fund was “one of the strongest delivery plans they had seen.”

She added: “What it means is that we have a vast amount of money focused on the first 1,001 days – pre natal to a child’s second birthday. This will strengthen the early days of a child’s lives.”

Baroness Floella Benjamin takes part in Baby Week Bradford

Bradford projects to benefit will include Little Minds Matter, an infant mental health service, work to help ensure children have secure housing, and work with families that have substance abuse issues.

The funding means that across the Bradford district, existing Family Hub services, which support babies, children and young people from ages 0-19 will expand with this additional Start for Life funding.

The Council also intends to allow more services to work out of its hub buildings, making it easier for families to access services they need in one space.

Bradford district’s Family Hubs and Start for Life programme involves a number of partners who are working together to deliver the programme. The partnership includes Bradford Council, Bradford and Craven Health and Care Partnership, the district care trust and Bradford and Airedale Hospital Trusts, Better Start Bradford and a number of local voluntary sector organisations.

Amanda Stanford, Chief Nurse at Airedale NHS Foundation Trust and Senior Responsible Officer for the Bradford District and Craven Health and Care Partnership Best 1,001 days programme, said: “We know that the first 1,001 days are so important for every child’s development and health. What happens during this time will impact them for the rest of their life.

"We want every baby in the Bradford District to have the best start in life regardless of where they were born or their background. This programme will help achieve this ambition and provide us with vital learning so that we can improve the health outcomes and lives of future babies in our district.”