Wakefield’s Family Nurse Partnership (FNP), a proven and life-changing service supporting young parents, is celebrating 15 years of helping babies get the very best start in life.
The FNP is an intensive, targeted home-visiting programme for first-time young parents aged 19 and under. Delivered locally by the Growing Healthy Wakefield 0–19 Children’s Service, in partnership with Wakefield Families Together, the programme supports families from early pregnancy through the crucial early years of a child’s life.
At the heart of FNP is the trusted, consistent relationship built between a specially trained family nurse and each parent. This relationship enables young parents to develop the confidence, skills and resilience needed to provide safe, sensitive and responsive care for their children – helping to improve long-term outcomes and reduce health inequalities across communities.
Since its launch in Wakefield, the FNP team has supported hundreds of young families, offering intensive, one-to-one guidance from pregnancy until their child is aged between one and two years.
What makes the Family Nurse Partnership unique:
- Tailored support for first-time parents aged 19 and under
- Regular home visits from specially trained family nurses
- Continuous support from early pregnancy through to toddlerhood
- A strong focus on building confidence, parenting skills and future opportunities
By building strong, supportive relationships, family nurses empower young parents to feel confident, capable, and ready to give their child the best possible start in life.
Over the past 15 years, the programme has helped to:
- Improve children’s development and school readiness
- Increase parental confidence and independence
- Reduce health inequalities across the district
The service also recognises the wider factors that shape a family’s future. As well as parenting support, FNP works with families to address challenges such as housing, education and financial stability, helping to improve overall health and wellbeing.
The programme is delivered by a dedicated local team of family nurses, supported by a supervisor and specialist staff, who work closely with maternity and community services to identify and support families as early as possible.
With strong evidence showing that early intervention leads to better outcomes for both parents and children, the team is encouraging partners to refer eligible parents at the earliest stage in pregnancy.
Claire Abell, Wakefield 0–19 Head of Public Health and Operations, said: “For 15 years, the Family Nurse Partnership has supported young parents in Wakefield to believe in themselves and build brighter futures for their children. We are incredibly proud of the difference this programme makes every single day, helping young people develop the confidence, knowledge and resilience they need to navigate early parenthood.
“By working with families from pregnancy onwards, we are improving long-term outcomes and helping to reduce health inequalities across our communities. This work is only possible thanks to the dedication of our staff and the strength of our partnerships, ensuring more young parents and their children can access early support.”
Vicky Webb, FNP Supervisor, said: “It’s a real privilege for me, and for the whole team, to work alongside young people as they begin their journey into parenthood. With such a dedicated group of nurses, we are able to help young parents build confidence and give their children the best possible start in life.”
Cllr Dr Ansar Hayat, Wakefield Council’s Cabinet Member for Adults and Health, said: “As commissioners, we’re very proud to support the Family Nurse Partnership and the difference it has made for young families across Wakefield over the past 15 years.
“The programme continues to demonstrate the importance of providing the right support at the right time, particularly for young parents who may be facing a range of challenges.
“FNP is a key part of our approach to giving every child the best start in life and reducing inequalities across our communities. The strong, trusted relationships built between family nurses and young parents are central to its success, helping people feel more confident, resilient, and supported as they navigate early parenthood.”