£127k Investment Boosts Support at Bournville Healthy Living Centre

Families in Bournville are benefitting from a £127,000 government investment to support early years provision at the Healthy Living Centre, strengthening services for parents, babies and young children.

The funding will support the rollout of Best Start Family Hubs and Healthy Babies, a major national programme designed to give every child the best start in life by bringing together health, education and family support under one roof.

Dan Aldridge, MP for Weston-super-Mare, recently visited the Bournville Healthy Living Centre alongside Catherine Gibbons to see first-hand how the funding is being used to support local families.

The investment will help deliver a wide range of services, including:

• Preventative health support for babies and young children

• Parenting advice and open access activities such as stay and play

• Support for children’s early learning and development at home

• Early help for children with additional needs

The programme will also bring together key services such as health visiting, infant feeding support and perinatal mental health care, ensuring families receive joined-up support closer to home.

Speaking after the visit, Dan Aldridge, Weston-super-Mare'sMP said:

“Children should always be put first, and that’s exactly what is happening here in Bournville.

“It was fantastic to meet the team and see how they’re using this investment to support local families. From early help to practical advice and a welcoming space, this is what strong, community-focused support looks like in action.

“I always value the chance to speak directly with parents and staff. Hearing their experiences, what’s working well and what more they need, is vital to making sure services truly support families.

Cllr Catherine Gibbons, North Somerset Council’s Deputy Leader and cabinet member forChildren’s Services, Lifelong Learning and Skills said:

“It was a pleasure to welcome Dan to our first designated Best Start Family Hub and to show the progresswe’remaking locally. His commitment to giving children and young people the best possible start was clear, and it meant a great deal to share how this work will make a difference for families in North Somerset.

“With £127,000 of setup funding, we’ve created a welcoming space offering joined up support from the very start, laying strong foundations for our Best Start in Life Local Plan. We’re excited to build on this with a further £2.6 million of government investment over the next three years, helping us grow our family hub network and ensure more families get the support they need, when they need it.”