What does it take to really change childhoods?
About this Event

Join us for this year's highly anticipated Better Start conference.

'It takes a village to raise a child' is an often referred-to proverb when talking about early child development. It draws us back to the meaning of community and the importance of collective and shared efforts. But if that's all it takes, why aren't we doing it?

When Blackpool received the Lottery's monumental funding into the early years, we committed, as a place, to focusing on improving children's wellbeing and development. But, it wasn't enough to want to do it. We had to make it happen. We challenged our 'village', our workforce, our systems and our evidence and really changed the way we support our babies, young children and families.

This year, our conference will focus on not only what we've done, but how we've done it. Because the village is important, but it takes more than that to really change childhoods.

With opportunities for you to interact with live polls and live Q&As sessions, our exciting agenda chaired by Sir Peter Wanless, CEO of the NSPCC, includes:

Naomi Eisenstadt CB, Chair, NHS Northamptonshire Integrated Care Board, and the first director of the Sure Start unit
Chris Cuthbert, Lead, Social Research Institute, University College London
Dr Cheryll Adams CBE, founding Executive Director, iHV (until March 2021)
Hilary Kennedy, Chief Executive (Joint), AVIGUK
Jean Gross CBE, founding Trustee and now an Associate of the Early Intervention Foundation and a Trustee of ICAN
Beckie Lang, Chief Executive, HENRY
Professor Paul Ramchandani, LEGO Professor of Play in Education, Development and Learning, University of Cambridge

As well as a panel session featuring:

Neil Jack, Chief Executive, Blackpool Council
Sally Hogg, PEDAL Senior Policy Fellow, University of Cambridge
Professor Leon Feinstein, Director of the Rees Centre and Professor of Education and Children’s Social Care, University of Oxford

If you are unable to join us on the day or for the full duration, don't worry! Once registered, you will be able to access the content for up to 14 days after the event, at a time convenient to you.