Organisation: Lifestart Foundation

Description:
The Lifestart Foundation is a charitable body working to produce better child development outcomes by educating parents on how young children develop and learn in order that parents might better help their children to reach their full potential. The Foundation, which has 21 years of experience in parenting education and child development support, has 17 affiliated community-based projects in Ireland and two abroad, in Macedonia and in Zambia.

Lifestart projects offer parents the ‘Growing Child’ - a home visitation and parent learning programme that provides age-specific knowledge and information on child development for the parents of children aged from birth to five years of age. The programme was devised by a parent and developed by child development experts in the United States at the University of Purdue Indiana and since its inception has been made available to and impacted upon the lives of over 5 million children.

Lifestart projects also deliver shorter-term parent training programmes and workshops and other early years services. They are currently delivering Lifestart programmes and services to the parents of more than 13,000 children.

Contact name: Pauline McClenaghan

Address:
11a Bishop Street
L’Derry

Postcode: BT48 6PL

Tel: (028) 7136 5363

Fax: (028) 7136 5334

Email: foundation@lifestart01.fsnet.co.uk

Website: www.lifestartfoundation.org

Sector (statutory, voluntary, community, other): Voluntary

Area of interest/expertise:
Parenting education, child development and early years programmes and services

Mission statement:
Our mission is to support and facilitate the delivery of Lifestart programmes throughout Ireland and beyond in order that all children can enjoy their childhood, develop their full potential through play and interaction, have an equal chance within the education system and enjoy a healthy lifestyle.