From diet and nutrition to social and communications skills, A Better Start Southend looks back at the impact it has had on improving outcomes for children that will last well beyond the end of the programme.

A Better Start Southend was a 10-year, £36.7 million National Lottery Community Fund programme, promoting good early childhood development.

Involving local parents, A Better Start Southend developed and tested ways to improve children’s diet and nutrition, social and emotional skills, and speech, language and communication.

Dr Nia Thomas, Director of ABSS, explained:

“A Better Start Southend programme was part of a time limited fund and we’re incredibly proud at what it has achieved in its 10-year lifespan.

“Throughout the programme, we have put families at the heart of everything we do and have supported some life-changing projects and services.

“It’s cause for celebration that so many of those services will continue beyond the end of A Better Start Southend – not to mention everything we have learnt that will help to inform and support services in Southend and beyond. Our research findings will be published later in the year.”

There have been many A Better Start Southend highlights, including:

• Festival of Conversations: Working in partnership with ABSS partners, parents and community leaders, our final festival took place in the summer of 2024. Families enjoyed free activities, which were opportunities to make lasting memories together.
• Winning two Children & Young People Now Awards (2022): The Talking Transitions project won the prestigious Early Years Award for building relationships between early years settings and schools, providing specialist training to professionals and ensuring knowledge was shared with parents.

The A Better Start Southend team also won the Partnership Award, highlighting the importance and benefits of the ABSS’s partnership way of working to deliver an impactful programme, alongside a dedicated community of parents.

Tara Poore, previous Director of ABSS, shared:

“Winning two prestigious CYP Now awards plays testament to all who work tirelessly in the early years space to improve the outcomes of Southend’s youngest residents.”

• Positive project outcomes: Some projects have received new funding to continue in new and different ways. Southend Storysacks will continue to be delivered from Southend Libraries and as the Parent Champion programme ends, a new Southend’s Parent Voice pilot programme launches in partnership with SAVS and Southend City Council.

An ABSS Parent Champion, reflected:

“What I would take to be a Parent Champion into the future is the standard that they’ve set out for us as a parent, how to engage with others, how to get involved in activities with the children, and to encourage other new mums and other parents coming up as well.”

Families can access valuable information and services from:

• City Family – Providing advice and support to help families to navigate available services. Visit www.cityfamily.org.uk or call 01702 844118.
• Livewell Southend – A hub for health and wellbeing services, including the SEND Local Offer. Visit www.livewellsouthend.com.

For updates on the A Better Start research findings, visit the Knowledge Hub on the A Better Start Southend website: https://abetterstartsouthend.co.uk/research-knowledge-hub/.