Supporting families in
Redcar & Cleveland
Redcar & Cleveland
Since 2023
5 local areas
Understanding the area
Before developing our programme in Redcar & Cleveland, we worked with local partners to build a detailed understanding of the experiences of babies, young children and families across Dormanstown, Eston, Grangetown, Kirkleatham and South Bank.
We gathered evidence on children’s development, family wellbeing and the wider challenges facing local services. We also spoke with parents and carers, education, health and community professionals, local authority staff and community groups to understand local strengths, barriers and priorities.
Working with a local researcher, we engaged families whose perspectives are less often heard, ensuring that lived experience was at the heart of the process.
The insights gathered through this work have helped shape our approach in Redcar & Cleveland and continue to inform how partners work together to strengthen the early years system and improve support for children and families.
What we learnt
All services have been trying to get it right for parents and that is where Thrive at Five comes in to give us the time and space to support families.”
Graeme Nicholson, Advanced Public Health Practitioner,
Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council
What’s happening in Redcar & Cleveland
Working alongside local partners, we’re helping to strengthen the early years system across Redcar & Cleveland so that support for babies, young children and their families is more connected, accessible and effective.
Our co-produced events have brought together hundreds of local professionals, with international experts and information sharing activities to strengthen practice, build expertise, and improve outcomes for children in the long term.
Through co-production with parents, carers and professionals, we’re developing and delivering activities that respond to local priorities and build on the strengths of communities across our five wards. This includes strengthening parent, baby and toddler groups, raising awareness of perinatal mental health, creating opportunities for families to connect with support from pregnancy onwards, and bringing professionals together to share learning and best practice.
By connecting services, community organisations and families, we’re helping to build stronger networks of support and improve outcomes for children in the earliest years of life.
Explore some of the programmes, partnerships and activities currently taking place across Redcar & Cleveland.
From Baby showers to Bumps and Babies – supporting new and expecting parents in Redcar and Cleveland
Supporting parents’ mental health
We’ve worked closely with local health professionals, including midwives, health visitors and community services, as well as parents to co-design a borough-wide campaign promoting awareness of perinatal mental health in partnership with RCBC.
The campaign aims to normalise the ups and downs of parenthood, improve parents’ awareness of support services and offerings, encourage parents to reach out for support. By bringing our expertise and capacity to work in partnership with those already supporting families, we’re helping to strengthen the system so that evidence-based support reaches more parents in Redcar and Cleveland.
The health visitor asked me if I was struggling and I finally said yes. That's how I came to meet Thrive at Five and my parent connector, Grace. Grace helped me get out there and helped me build my confidence. We used to meet for coffees and then when I was feeling up to it, took me to St Hilda’s parent baby toddler group. I stopped feeling so isolated and anxious because I was getting out and meeting people. At first, it was scary to be in social situations, but Grace helped me find my feet in the group and helped me make friends. I’ve got my confidence back, I’ve got my spark back."
Local parent
Progress and learning in Redcar & Cleveland
We use data, evaluation and local insight to understand what is changing, where progress is being made and what we still need to learn.
1,792
interactions with parents
During January to March 2026, Thrive at Five’s first quarter working in Redcar & Cleveland, we recorded 1,792 interactions with parents in wards including Dormanstown, Eston, Grangetown, Kirkleatham and South Bank.
17 week
perinatal mental health campaign
Partnerships in Redcar & Cleveland
Strong partnerships are the foundation of Thrive at Five’s work in Redcar & Cleveland. We work alongside families, early years providers, schools, community organisations and local services across our five wards.
Our partnership with Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council plays a key role in connecting services and strengthening support for children and families. We also work closely with local primary schools and private, voluntary and independent early years settings, bringing together different perspectives, expertise and experiences to respond to local needs.
Beyond these local partnerships, we are part of a wider network of organisations that share a commitment to improving outcomes for babies, young children and their families. By working collaboratively, sharing learning and building strong relationships, we can help create a more connected and effective early years system across Redcar & Cleveland.
Events like Bumps & Babies are so important so families can see what’s going on in the area. Bringing people together and having events like this means that families can feel involved in their communities and have first-hand access and support from everybody around them.”
Jen Booth, Family Action
