PARENTS will be encouraged to give their children a flying start in life by staff at a pioneering new support centre, which has secured a £2.6million government cash injection.

The Sudell and Central Darwen Surestart Trailblazer initiative is aimed at children aged four and under and families. Issues such as learning, health, social and emotional development are priorities.

There will be action to reducing teenage pregnancies, support for fathers, parenting skills promotion and help for children and parents with emotional difficulties.

The facility will also offer outreach services to tackle problems. It will link in and complement existing initiatives locally and nationally.

Blackburn with Darwen Council was invited to bid for the funding last March and Sudell and central Darwen were pinpointed as disadvantaged areas.

Coun Janice Parker, chairman of the Sudell and Central Darwen Surestart board, said: "Surestart offers a new way of encouraging child development and providing family support. More intensive and specialised outreach home visiting will be part of the support package as will behaviour management clinics, one-to-one support sessions, parent and toddlers groups, health promotion and well baby clinics.

"This is a pioneering project which brings together all partners working in the area such as Communicare NHS Trust, the Primary Care Group, the council, voluntary and community schemes and other partners."

The scheme will be started at Lord Street Nursery, when a co-ordinator is appointed in the near future. The new building is expected to be opened within 12 months.

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