Support for families with babies and young children in Southend is changing as the A Better Start Southend (ABSS) National Lottery Community Fund grant ends in March 2025.
Over the last ten years, ABSS has supported 7,865 children aged 0 – 3 and pregnant women in six wards through a range of projects and services aimed at discovering what works best to help make Southend a great place to have and raise a child.
The programme has been dedicated to working with local partners, as well as listening to, learning from and supporting families and young children.
Local organisations and parents have been integral to exploring new ways to think about and deliver services to give Southend's children the best start in life.
Nia Thomas, Director of A Better Start Southend, said:
“We want to thank all our delivery partners, parent champions and everyone who has been part of the A Better Start Southend journey over the last decade, especially the families and children that have accessed the services we've supported.
“Their experiences and feedback have helped us to discover new and different ways to improve the lives of babies and local families.
“Over the last decade, we have supported over 40 different projects, listened to and learnt from parents and children and made a real difference to people's lives.
“Now the time has come to look beyond A Better Start Southend, we are working with our partners to plan for the future and support a new era of early years, family support and partnership working.
“City Family Community Interest Company will be key to ensuring A Better Start Southend's legacy in the city”.
From November, City Family will launch a service providing first line advice and support, particularly focussed on ABSS projects and services and the transition to Beyond ABSS.
Some of the projects ABSS has supported have secured funding to enable them to continue, while others will change, be delivered differently or end in their current form.
ABSS is working with partners to plan changes and support the transition to March 2025 and beyond.
Those who want to know more about the end of the A Better Start Southend programme can visit Beyond ABSS: What Next? or email BeyondABSS@eyalliance.org.uk.