Press enquiries

Media Centre

Please contact our Communications team on media.betterstart@nspcc.org.uk with any media enquiries.

We have a range of spokespeople available at Better Start to comment on topics including but not limited to:

  • Early years education and childcare including school readiness
  • Social and emotional child development
  • Parent-Infant relationships and perinatal mental health
  • Infant mental health and the child’s voice
  • Speech, Language and Communication including specialist interventions
  • Trauma and Adversity
  • Community & Engagement
  • Dad’s engagement
  • Enhanced Health Visiting
  • Oral Health
  • Pregnancy and Parenting
  • Diet and Nutrition

We also have specialists who have a proven track record in:

  • Systems Building
  • Service Delivery and Design
  • Strategic planning
  • Influence governance
  • Co-production and Co-design
  • Campaigns, Communications and PR
  • Research & Evaluation
  • Service Transformation
Vicki Morgan, Senior Development Manager at Better Start
Clare Law, Director at Better Start
Annette Algie, Strategic Service Manager at Better Start

In the news…

Making School Readiness Everybody’s Responsibility  Children & Young People Now, June 2026

Community Connectors redefine early years support in Blackpool Children & Young People Now, May 2026

Blackpool Council and BookTrust: supercharging the power of library storytellers April 2026

Better Start Conference brings national spotlight to Blackpool as hundreds gather to shape the future of early childhood March 2026

Early parenthood support for vulnerable families in the community December 2025

Is government meeting its goal to set every child up for success in their first 1,000 days of life? Civil Service World, September 2025

Turning the tide of on poverty in Blackpool The Guardian, June 2025

Blackpool sees a decline in smoking in pregnancy rates… Mancunian Matters, May 2025

Collaborative projects lay strong foundations for best start to life Children & Young People Now, March 2025

Groundbreaking Blackpool scheme which is transforming children’s lives is being extended for two years – January 2025

‘You are so good with every child’ – community event means Blackpool children can meet Santa – December 2024

Dads: How to bond with your baby and be at your best – Autumn 2024

How Blackpool Better Start are engaging families in an activity funding scheme – Summer 2024

Nearly 3 in 4 eligible families signed up to Healthy Start in Blackpool  – February 2023

Feedback

 “It’s been fantastic working with Better Start. We have learnt so much from the support of the team which we have been able to adapt for our families in Carmarthenshire.”
Caryl Alban
Carmathenshire County Council

Feedback

 “Setting the collective vision for Blackpool Better Start enabled all agencies to see how their own work could make a difference for families with young children. It also led us to realise what a critical contribution Better Start could make to our wider ambitions for regeneration and renewal of Blackpool. When we invest in early childhood, we are investing in the future of our town.”
Neil Jack, Chief Executive,
Blackpool Council
Dame Rachel de Souza, Children’s Commissioner for England
“I was delighted and inspired by my visit to Blackpool. What impressed me was the innovative partnerships I saw delivering for babies and children and the willingness to explore new ways of doing things.”
Dame Rachel de Souza,
Children’s Commissioner for England
Christian Guy, Director, The Royal Foundation for Early Childhood
“Better Start is an inspiring example of how important and impactful it can be to bring organisations together – with a common vision and a steely determination – to listen to people at a local level and put families at the centre of services.”
Christian Guy
Director, The Royal Foundation for Early Childhood
Dame Andrea Leadsom, MP
“I was delighted to meet parents with their babies and hear about their experiences, as well as discuss with the early years workforce their ambitions for continuous improvement. Their advice and ideas will be incredibly useful as we roll out the Best Start for Life across England.”
Dame Andrea Leadsom,
MP
Peter Wanless, Former CEO, NSPCC
“For me, Blackpool Better Start is one of the most fascinating and influential pieces of work that the NSPCC is involved in.”
Peter Wanless
Former CEO, NSPCC