Projects

At A Better Start Southend we want to do things differently through the design and delivery of services that make a real difference to parents and children.

We want to find new ways to think about services for families by testing approaches that have worked well in other areas or may never have been tried before.

Our Focus Is:

• Based on ideas that have worked elsewhere, so we can see if they work in Southend.
• Based on the most recent scientific thinking, so we can see if they work in practice.
• Driven by creative, collaborative ideas.

Our Current Projects Are:

Enjoy family time and get a boost through gardening activities at community gardening centres in Shoeburyness, Westcliff and Kursaal.

Families Growing Together

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One-on-one breastfeeding support by Infant Feeding Support Workers (updates to service with effect from 01.04.24).

One-to-One Breastfeeding Support

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The 3-5 Month Health Visitor offers guidance on introducing solid foods, portion sizes, and addresses parental questions about baby’s growth and development before complementary feeding begins.

3-5 Month Health Visitor Contact

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Offering both ante-natal and post-natal support for mothers who wish to breastfeed.

‘Bump to Breast’ Group-based Breastfeeding Support

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The A Better Start Crèche team have now transferred over to City Family Explorers.

Crèche services

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Support for families with children with social and communication needs.

Social and Communication Peer Support Workers

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Fun-packed communication courses helping parents, carers and little ones to develop their communication skills.

Let's Talk

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Support to improve parental confidence and wellbeing for families.

Specialist Health Visitors for Perinatal Mental Health

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Practical opportunities for parents of children aged 0-3 who are looking to get back into work.

Work Skills

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Health visiting team which supports young parents (aged 21 years and under expecting their first child) antenatally, up until their child turns five years of age across the City of Southend.

Little Steps

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Individual support for parents of children aged 0-3 who have been exposed to domestic abuse living in Southend.

IDVA Project

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The Family Action project, Food On Our Doorstep (FOOD) provides families with good quality food at a low cost, while also reducing food waste.

Food Club

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Free storytelling and activity packs to borrow for children aged 0-3.

Updates to service with effect from 01.01.25

Southend Storysacks

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Sessions for children who are aged 0-3 and have ANY form of disability / SEND.

Chaos & Calm

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The award winning ‘Talking Transitions’ project aims to ensure that all children starting their journey to ‘Big school’ across the ABSS areas and Southend, experience as smooth a transition as possible.

Talking Transitions

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YourFamily is the friendly, local community for parents and little ones for all families living in Southend with children under 4 years of age or a baby on the way.

YourFamily

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CID Fund Projects

The CID fund is now closed for any new applications.

The A Better Start Southend (ABSS) Community Ideas and Development (CID) Fund drives community-led change by investing in and supporting community groups, organisations, and individuals with innovative ideas about how to improve the lives of children, and families living in Southend. The goal of the fund is to support these groups or organisations in turning their creative concepts into actionable projects.

We are working with existing partners to ensure the effectiveness of projects and to support partners to keep responding to the needs of their communities. Any applications already in process are undergoing the usual review procedures.

Our CID Fund Projects Are:

Join the Friday Friendship Group by Welcome to the UK, offering ESOL classes and support for overseas families. Families can connect, share experiences, and practice English, and a creche is provided.

Welcome to the UK: Friendship Fridays

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Join free Yoga4all classes for pregnancy, mother & baby, and parent & toddler groups. Suitable from the second trimester and post-natal 6-week check.

Yoga4all: Pregnancy, Mother and Baby, and Parent and Toddler Yoga

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Sunshine Baby Bank provides essential items to families in need and offers stay and play sessions for young children and their parents. These sessions provide a supportive environment for families to connect, play, and get essential resources.

Sunshine Baby Bank: Sunshine Stay and Plays

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Tiny Tots Time is a baby and toddler group featuring messy play, soft play, singing and dancing, sensory activities, and more.

The Ironworks: Tiny Tots Time

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Families can visit this baby bank to receive essential items like clothing for their young children. Parents and carers can also access support from the YourFamily team.

One Love: Little Love Baby Bank with YourFamily

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Dads Connect offers resources and networking events for fathers and male carers.

City Family: Dads Connect

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This project offers free workshops with a child psychotherapist and play therapist. Parents will learn how play boosts communication, resilience, and overall child development.

The Power of Play: Build a Bond Through Play

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Previous A Better Start Southend Projects:

Umbilical Chords (end date: May 2024)

Talking Transitions (transferred to City Family in January 2024)

YourFamily (transferred to City Family in January 2024)

Crèche Team (transferred to City Family in December 2023)

Family Nurse Partnership (referral end date: October 2023)

Volunteer Home Visiting service (end date: March 2023)

HENRY (end date: August 2022)

Being a Parent (end date: January 2020)

Fathers Reading Every Day (FRED) (end date: June 2019)

Sunshine & Stories (end date: 2016)

Mellow Parenting (end date: 2015)

Incredible Years (end date: 2015)

Five to Thrive (end date: 2016)

Connecting Parents (end date: 2016)

Community Parents Programme (end date: 2016)

Building Bridges (end date: 2016)

Buggy Active/Activise /Active Families (end date: 2016)