Supporting new parents and caregivers in Leeds

Parents and caregivers in Leeds can receive free support in the crucial first 1000 days of their newborns’ lives as part of a study led by the University of Leeds.

Parents and primary caregivers of children aged 5-10 weeks living in Beeston, Holbeck, Middleton, Hunslet, Gipton, Harehills, Seacroft, Killingbeck and Burmantofts are being invited to take part in a free group support programme, designed to give infants the best start in life.  

The programme aims to empower caregivers by creating a support network and social opportunities where they can share experiences and seek advice, as well as gaining knowledge about parenting together. 

We want to create a safe, judgement-free space where parents and caregivers in Leeds can learn, meet other families and help shape the future of infant care.

The sessions will be delivered by experienced family wellbeing workers, using plain language, in family-friendly, accessible locations in the community. The supportive sessions will take place in small groups of 8-10 caregivers, meeting regularly every few weeks. 

The first 1000 days are critical for children’s future health, wellbeing and development, but for new parents and caregivers it can be a challenging and tiring time. Those seeking guidance and support in classes, baby groups or coffee mornings may be faced with unaffordable costs, leaving them with limited options to meet people having a similar experience. 

To meet the needs of caregivers facing these challenges, the My First 1000 Days project provides parents with a group support programme covering helpful topics including safe sleeping, crying, feeding, healthy cooking, physical activity, early communication and baby massage. 

It takes a village to raise a child – group care is creating that village of support.

To sign up to the first group, which starts in April, visit the My First 1,000 Days website. 

Marcus Uhuru, Senior Family Wellbeing Worker at the University of Leeds, is leading the team delivering the sessions. Marcus said: “Parents are facing huge pressures from society – whatever decisions you make about your child, you’re bound to feel judged by someone. We want to create a safe, judgement-free space where parents and caregivers in Leeds can learn, meet other families and help shape the future of infant care.  

“Going into a new group environment can be daunting, but all you need to take part in the study is yourself and your child. You can share as much or as little as you want to; nothing is forced. 

“We know the parents and caregivers we’re hoping to reach will have a range of cultural and religious beliefs and it’s important to stress that we will only share guidance and support based on the latest research. We want to make parents feel supported in their children’s early life.” 

The ambitious project aims to improve health, wellbeing, psychological, cognitive, and social outcomes for caregivers and infants, bringing together expertise from across medicine, psychology, arts, biology and disability studies. 

Parents taking part in the study will be asked to fill out a series of questionnaires and take part in optional interviews and focus groups about their experiences and thoughts on group care. By doing this, they can play a key role in shaping the future of early years care in Leeds and beyond.  

Dr Camilla Nykjaer in the School of Biomedical Sciences at the University of Leeds, who leads the physical activity strand of the work, said: “It takes a village to raise a child – group care is creating that village of support. By bringing together caregivers, facilitators and community members, these groups create a supportive environment where everyone can contribute to the wellbeing of both the caregiver and the baby.

“We know that the experience of support, shared identity and connectedness within groups can act as a potent resource for lifestyle change, enhancing group members’ engagement with their own health and that of their baby.” 

Benefits of group care 

The Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research (TNO) has tested group care in pregnancy and found it can help to build relationships and improve parents’ mental health.  

The aim of the University of Leeds study is to test whether this approach works postpartum within the UK, and how it could be improved, in partnership with TNO. 

The programme covers three main strands:  

• Physical activity in the early years – led by Professor Karen Birch and Dr Camilla Nykjaer in the School of Biomedical Sciences  
• Early language and cognitive development – led by Leeds Child Development Unit lead Professor Catherine Davies and Professor Amanda Waterman in the School of Psychology 
• Food and nutrition – led by Professor Jason Halford in the School of Psychology 

These areas are all underpinned by the theme of Co-Producing a Disability-Inclusive Model of Group Care, which is led by Professor Angharad Beckett, from Leeds’ Centre for Disability Studies.   

My First 1000 Days is delivered in collaboration with Leeds City Council, colleagues at Leeds Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, the community and the private sector. It was made possible thanks to a generous philanthropic donation from Leeds alumni, Duncan and Jaynie Ford. 

Giving children the best possible start in life has wide implications, such as reduced need for future healthcare, better educational attainment and economic benefits. It is hoped that the findings of the study will inform future UK policymaking around early years education and care. 

Further information 

Top image: Adobe Stock.

Marcus Uhuru (Senior Family Wellbeing Worker) and Dr Camilla Nykjaer (Lecturer in Nutrition, Physical Activity and Public Health in the School of Biomedical Sciences) are both available for radio and print interviews.  

Please contact Mia Saunders in the University of Leeds press office via m.saunders@leeds.ac.uk with media enquiries.