Nursery World - Combined forces

Professionals working with Sure Start schemes are truly helping families in deprived areas to help themselves, as Anne Wiltsher reports Sure Start is a 'very exciting way to work', according to Lynda Hassall, team member of the programme which has been operating in Barrow in Furness, Cumbria, since February last year. 'I spent ten years as a social worker being constrained by resources and asking how on earth can we manage to help people? Now we can say, "What would make a difference to you?"', she says.

Sure Start is a 'very exciting way to work', according to Lynda Hassall, team member of the programme which has been operating in Barrow in Furness, Cumbria, since February last year. 'I spent ten years as a social worker being constrained by resources and asking how on earth can we manage to help people? Now we can say, "What would make a difference to you?"', she says.

It's rare for those at the coalface to praise Government initiatives, but the enthusiasm for Sure Start among those involved is palpable. 'The best public health initiative this country has ever done,' says one consultant in public health medicine. 'I'm 100 per cent hooked,' says an ex-health visitor who has reduced her hours as lead officer of a health improvement programme to act as advisor on 12 Sure Start programmes.

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