It's #nationalplayday today, the national day for play in the UK. To mark it, our Advanced Health Improvement Practitioner Sabrina Kerr discusses the importance of play for babies and young children. Playday Family Action EPUT abetterstartsouthend.co.uk/blog/national-… #southend

You can now get NHS-approved breastfeeding advice through the Google Assistant app. Download it and try it out today! ow.ly/IG0M30ldFSm

We're celebrating #WorldBreastfeedingWeek! A great time to find out about our free Group-based Breastfeeding Support abetterstartsouthend.co.uk/breastfeedings… and Southend Supports Breastfeeding scheme with @SouthendBC abetterstartsouthend.co.uk/southend-suppo… #southend #shoebury EPUT SAVS

Find a range of different links & resources for parents, inc an excellent guide to common childhood illnesses & well-being (for children 0-4) on our website abetterstartsouthend.co.uk/families/resou… SAVS EPUT Family Action @HWSouthend CitizensAdviceSonSea #Southend #Shoebury

Another interesting session on the parent champion course looking at confidence and communication the group also heard from Kayleigh the senior crèche worker from A Better Start Southend telling parents about how they aim to develop the children in sessions SAVS

Final session of parent champion training course today the parents deliver their own presentation on a subject they are passionate about the nerves are coming! SAVS A Better Start Southend

A fun and productive Mascot Innovation meeting this morning. SAVS and A Better Start Southend and our wonderful Parent Champions working together to whittle down the incredible creations that have been worked on by the children. Stay tuned for an update on progress and next steps!

Thank you to all families attending the sports day activity in Christchurch Park - fun games,face painting and sunshine well done Zoe Roy for the idea and planning A Better Start Southend

A great event coming up on Monday 20th August for parents and carers of 0-3 year olds living in Shoebury or West Shoebury. Citizens Advice will be giving free information and advice at Friars Children Centre between 10-11.30am. CitizensAdviceSonSea A Better Start Southend SAVS

Congratulations to our new parent champions such an inspiring group full of skills and ideas 💡 Thank you for your commitment to the role and look forward to seeing what you bring to it A Better Start Southend SAVS

There are lots of ways you can get involved in the A Better Start project. Our Coffee Sessions are a relaxed and informal way for parents to share their ideas and concerns. Here are the dates and locations for Aug/Sep in Shoeburyness and West Shoebury Wards. A Better Start Southend

Well done to A Better Start Southend office superstar Rosemary for her Brave Head Shave this afternoon to raise money for Macmillan Cancer Support. You can donate to this amazing cause here: bravetheshave.macmillan.org.uk/shavers/rosema…

Dads Takeover Day at Shoebury Fire Station, families getting involved with fatherhoodinst promoting the benefits of dads reading to their children Essex Fire Service talking to residents about home fire safety. Nicky Evans talking about volunteer opportunities A Better Start Southend SAVS

A Better Start Workskills Paediatric First aid all set up and good to go at Friars Children Centre! With Southend Council and First Aid Fairies! A Better Start Southend @SouthendBC @businessonsea Turning Tides Team Caroline Reynolds SAVS JCP in Essex @SouthendNHS EEAST Ambulance Service

Another creative co-production session this morning working on the new A Better Start Southend Mascot. We’ve whittled down to 4 finalists now which will be going to the designers soon! Stay tuned for how you can vote on the winner. SAVS

After another drop in the number of students taking #GCSE #Music, our CEO Michael Dugher says the figures "show once again a worrying decline that is now becoming a trend" ukmusic.org/news/uk-music-…

A Better Space - Milton Garden parents meet Wendy Bailey from A Better Start Southend showcasing the parks project and the great partnership work with @SouthendBC Essex Police SAVS #inspiringparents

Have you downloaded our new Childhood Illness app yet? It's full of helpful tips and advice for when your little ones are ill and you're not sure what to do. It's available for download now! Just search 'Mid Essex Childhood Illness' in the app store. #HelpUsHelpYou

A life without dignity is not a life, and is a potential humanitarian crisis. My reactions to the cost of living threat. theguardian.com/commentisfree/…