Wakefield’s Family Nurse Partnership (FNP), a proven and life-changing service supporting young parents, is celebrating 15 years of helping babies get the best start in life.

Delivered locally by the Growing Healthy Wakefield 0 to 19 Children’s Service, and in partnership with Wakefield Families Together, the programme is an intensive, targeted home-visiting programme for first-time young parents aged 19 and under.

The FNP team has supported hundreds of young families across the district since it launched 15 years ago, offering intensive, one-to-one guidance from pregnancy until their child is aged between one and two years.

This includes helping to improve children’s development and school readiness, increasing parental confidence and independence and reducing health inequalities across the district.

Helen Wendel, health visitor, with a local family at the Family Nurse Partnership's 15th anniversary celebration event.

placeholder image — Helen Wendel, health visitor, with a local family at the Family Nurse Partnership's 15th anniversary celebration event.

The programme is delivered by a dedicated local team of family nurses, supported by a supervisor and specialist staff, who work closely with maternity and community services to identify and support families as early as possible.

Vicky Webb, FNP supervisor, said: “It’s a real privilege for me, and for the whole team, to work alongside young people as they begin their journey into parenthood.

"With such a dedicated group of nurses, we are able to help young parents build confidence and give their children the best possible start in life.”

As well as parenting support, the FNP also works with families to address challenges such as housing, education and financial stability, helping to improve overall health and wellbeing.

Claire Abell, Wakefield 0 to 19 head of Public Health and Operations, said: “For 15 years, the Family Nurse Partnership has supported young parents in Wakefield to believe in themselves and build brighter futures for their children.

"We are incredibly proud of the difference this programme makes every single day, helping young people develop the confidence, knowledge and resilience they need to navigate early parenthood.

“By working with families from pregnancy onwards, we are improving long-term outcomes and helping to reduce health inequalities across our communities.

"This work is only possible thanks to the dedication of our staff and the strength of our partnerships, ensuring more young parents and their children can access early support.”