Families Growing Together: Evaluation
Families Growing Together was a preventative early intervention programme supporting families with children aged 0–5 through welcoming, outdoor sessions at Trust Links’ therapeutic community gardens.
Delivered from 2021 to Summer 2025, the project brought parents, carers and young children together to play, learn and grow in a safe, inclusive environment, offering activities such as gardening, sensory and outdoor play, arts and crafts, and healthy eating.
The programme helped families:
- build stronger relationships
- improve children’s social and emotional development
- reduce isolation by creating opportunities for peer support and connection.
Hear from families who took part
Evaluation Findings
Independent evaluation found that parents reported increased confidence, improved wellbeing, stronger bonds with their children, and greater social connections, demonstrating the lasting impact of the service before it came to an end following the closure of A Better Start Southend funding.
