Derby Family Information Service wins award

Published: 4 December 2023

A project aimed at supporting Derby families has won an award for innovation. Derby Families Information Service (FIS) was named Most Innovative FIS at the National Families Information Service Awards, in recognition of its 52 Things To Do Before You’re 5 project.

The NAFIS Awards are an annual event designed to recognise the excellent work of Family Information Services around the country and to celebrate their remarkable contributions to local communities.  Entries are judged by Parent Champion volunteers.

52 Things To Do Before You’re 5 was launched in January for families in Derby city with children under five years old by Derby’s City Council’s Families Information Service, in partnership with Derby’s Children’s Centres.

Parents and carers can sign up for a free start up pack, which includes a booklet of activities and a poster where families can track their progress. Each page in the booklet suggests a free or very low-cost activity for the week, to do either indoors or outdoors.

Many of the activities are free and use local resources to have fun and encourage children’s learning and development. The pack includes a booklet of activities and a poster where families can track their progress. 

The activities build on children’s personal, social and emotional development, encouraging speech and communication, physical abilities, creative skills, knowledge and understanding of the world, and the foundations for early literacy and maths. Each activity can be revisited, and the booklet suggests how parents can extend children’s language and learning as they grow in confidence. 

Councillor John Whitby, Derby City Council Cabinet Member for Children’s Social Care, Learning and Skills, said:

It’s fantastic news that Derby FIS has been recognised with this award. The 52 Things project is fantastic free resource that support parents with their child’s development while providing hours of fun.

We are very proud of the work undertaken for this project and the exciting opportunities it has offered for partnership working with our Family Hubs and Children Centres.

Find out more about 52 Things and order your start up pack now.

Children, Community, Education