Our event, Maternal and infant nutrition framework: supporting a Healthy Start, took place in May 2014. The day included learning from previous and ongoing work around Healthy Start programmes in the Forth Valley area that were supported by CFHS.

CFHS was keen to facilitate follow-up learning exchange visits as part of this work.  The purpose of an in-depth visit was to learn more about another project or organisation in order to inform future and on-going work.  Two organisations offered to host visits.

In late October 2014, Tina Burgess of NHS Western Isles welcomed a group of visitors flying into Stornoway from Edinburgh, Glasgow and Inverness to learn more about local work in a rural area to inform policy and practice.

The group visited, Action for Children, the Maternal and Infant Nutrition Group, Pointers Young Mums Group, The Foyer, and Macaulay College (farm).

Visit our Facebook page to view a video montage sharing highlights and learning from the visit.

Another visit took place in the autumn of last year.  Four people visited Step by Step in Moray, representing the Scottish Government, NHS Health Scotland and NHS Forth Valley.  Participants travelled from Edinburgh to Elgin to meet Step by Step staff and volunteers in the local youth café, where they were able to hear about the organisation’s background, observe groups taking place and meet with other colleagues from the area.

Step by Step is a registered charity organisation offering groups for pregnant women, parents with a new baby and families with young children.  Activities centre around play, social connections and friendship.  Food is an important part of all the activities whether it is snack time, or people cooking or eating together.  Visitors were able to observe various parent and child groups, spend time with those involved and meet local colleagues from the area.

The organisation is run by a group of dedicated family workers and volunteers and is based in a number of locations around northern Scotland.  As soon as the visit began it was evident that everyone involved in the organisation works extremely hard to deliver the groups and services.  In particular, the Director and Chair explained the vast amount of work they were involved in at the beginning of the project.  Step by Step offers a variety of professional work experience throughout the team and the visitors were able to see how they work to utilise this to best effect