BrightPIP

Our goals:

• To enable parents to make the best possible relationship with their baby or toddler. This means the child will grow within a secure attachment relationship. This forms their mind's foundation and sets the template for how they will parent in turn .
• Improved social and emotional development for high risk babies. (All outcomes are evaluated.) Children with secure attachment are more resilient, creative and curious and make better use of educational opportunities that those who are insecure.
• Since the early caregiving relationship affects the neurobiology of the baby's developing brain an important aim of parent-infant therapy is to prevent maltreatment. Toxic stress hardwires the brain to be on the offensive or defensive.

How we will achieve our goals

At the moment the level of service offered to the local community is limited by staff and volunteer time. A Community Award would help keep BrightPIP going while they seek further sustainable funding. The help from PIP UK cannot be indefinite, although this charity would continue to offer free support.

Where the money will go

The project is valued by those services already serving the community, with referrals from midwives, health visitors and the children’s centre, the latter also donates office space. If parents feel more confident about parenting they engage more with work and education opportunities, so the benefit goes beyond giving babies the best start in life.