First Steps Forward

First Steps Forward (FSF) is an exciting new project being delivered in partnership with Community Vision, Westcliffe Community Works, and Crosby Community Association, which is being built around strengthening our deprived communities, with particular emphasis on the experiences of young children up to the age of five, and their wider families. The aim of the project is to help tackle the broad inequalities that some families face, which significantly impact on the future life chances of children and perpetuate an intergenerational cycle of deprivation.

Currently the service is only operational within Scunthorpe communities, because this is where the highest level of inequalities sits. As a community-based approach, it is important that we strengthen the support by working with other community-based services and that is why we are working in partnership with VANL, NL MIND, Westcliffe Community Works, and Crosby Community Association, who are operating in the heart of community and therefore best placed to engage and enable wider community groups and organisations to welcome and support families to benefit. The benefits of this approach for families will be increased confidence, skills, and aspirations, creating a culture of acceptance and inclusion.

The support will address the risks and barriers faced by families and deliver a bespoke service aimed at meeting the whole needs of the family in achieving a positive, successful, and healthy life by offering the following:

​Parenting Support

• Coaching, mentoring, and working towards personal goals and aspirations.

• Supporting to improve relationships with family, friends, and community.

• Navigation and support to understand and improve relationships with other agencies, i.e. schools, health, and social workers etc

• Practical help to ensure the safety of adults and children.

• Mental Health, counselling and wellbeing support offered by NL MIND.

The service is now ‘live’ and offering bespoke support to families, which will be tailored to the needs identified by parents themselves and designed to specifically address their needs, goals, and aspirations. It will happen in the place the family feels most comfortable in, including their own home. Families will be offered 1 to 1 support provided by family Support Coordinators staff and volunteers.

​Referral for Support

If you are a parent of a child under five living in Scunthorpe and feel like you need support to deal with issues affecting the wellbeing of your family, please contact us to hear how we can help. Our support in confidential and non-judgemental and you choose whether to accept help or not.

Call Lynne (based at Community Vision) on 01724 845155 option 7, Sophie (based at Crosby Community Association) on 07789 908635, Adelle (based at Westcliff Community Centre) on 07900 875031, Anna (based at MIND) 07762 483398.

Referrers can access the referral form here