A new NSPCC centre offering cutting-edge child protection services to some of the most vulnerable children and families in Bradford will be officially opened next week.

Over 60 delegates, including professionals from social care, health, police, education and voluntary organisations are expected to attend the launch event on Tuesday at the NSPCC Service Centre for Bradford at Eastbrook Hall in Leeds Road.

Guests, including the Lord Mayor of Bradford Councillor Naveeda Ikram, will have the opportunity to meet the NSPCC team and hear about the new services being offered locally by the children’s charity.

They will also have the chance to learn about the centre’s participation work with children and young people in Bradford and across Yorkshire.

Babies are eight times more likely to be killed than any other age group in childhood and the team in Bradford will focus on providing services for children under one, children who experience neglect, children from black and minority ethnic (BME) groups, and disabled children. The team will be delivering programmes such as: Pregnancy, birth and beyond which helps vulnerable groups of parents cope with having a baby and set a pattern of good parenting for life.

Graded Care Profile, a UK evaluation of a tool to assess the care of children and identify potential and actual child neglect in a bid to stop children being left by their parents without proper supervision, enough food or sufficient love and attention.

A programme preventing non-accidental head injuries in babies starts in the New Year. This will educate parents about the risks of shaking a baby and give practical coping strategies for the pressures of new parenthood. Abused babies are more likely to die from head injuries than any other cause.

The official ribbon-cutting ceremony will be performed by local NSPCC volunteer fundraisers Ruth and Nick Streets, of Heckmondwike, who will present the charity with a cheque for £11,926.48, raised during their year as golf club captains at Hollins Hall Golf Club, along with club member Peter Smith.

Service manager for the NSPCC in Bradford, Sharda Parthasarathi, said: “This is a very exciting time for the NSPCC in Bradford. The NSPCC makes a huge difference to the lives of children across the UK and this new centre will help us expand our work and pioneer new approaches to address the significant child protection problems facing local children.

“A wide range of new services will be offered from the centre. These include services that offer help and support to babies, children and their parents who may be struggling with a range of issues that might affect their parenting capacity, and help for children whose lives have been affected by neglect.”