The Welsh Government initiative Flying Start, aimed at giving children aged 0 to 3 the best start in life celebrated its 10th anniversary in Monmouthshire with a conference for professionals and practitioners at Monmouth’s Shire Hall.

The conference named My Journey before School gave an insight to the work that Flying Start practitioners provide and the impact the programme has had on families in Abergavenny, Overmonnow in Monmouth, Caldicot and Chepstow.

Beth Watkins and Angela Lewis, managers of the Monmouthshire Flying Start programme invited the Flying Start team, a range of professionals from health visitors, nurses, head teachers and elected members to the event to deliver heartfelt thanks to them for their hard work and support.

Attendees heard from mum-of-seven Shelly about the life-changing help and support she received from her local Flying Start Team and the many groups that she and her children have accessed. Flying Start staff also provided vital emotional and practical support, and most importantly signposted her to local organisations which led her to make crucial decisions that helped save her life.

Flying Start Staff and specialist health professionals Dr Aideen Naughton, Specialist Health Visitor Jenni Davies and Julie Wallace from the Flying Start Child and Psychotherapy Team provided presentations to highlight their work.

Dr Naughton of Public Health Wales talked of her ongoing work looking at Adverse Childhood Experience and the impact that negative experiences and the life choices parents make before birth can have on a child.

Summing up the event Flying Start Manager Beth Watkins said, “We felt that after ten years of providing support to families, it was time for a celebration and an opportunity to thank our staff.

“The day provided an opportunity to showcase to local elected members, head teachers and health visitors and community nurses the work our teams have done in Monmouthshire to help and support so many babies, toddlers and families since 2006.”

For more information on Flying Start and how to access the programme contact 01873 856162 or email [email protected]