Starting Well Project Evaluation

Lythgoe, Jeanne; Cameron, Helen

Starting Well Project Evaluation

Lythgoe, Jeanne; Cameron, Helen

Authors

Mrs Jeanne Lythgoe J.Lythgoe@salford.ac.uk
Senior Lecturer

Helen Cameron

Abstract

The purpose of this report is to evaluate the impact of the Starting Well Project
delivered by Home-Start Manchester (HSM) & Home-Start Trafford, Salford &
Wigan (HSTSW) with funding from the government’s Health & Wellbeing Fund
2020-21. This pilot project was delivered from January 2021 to March 2023 with
the aim of improving health outcomes for children aged 0-2 from minority
ethnic groups1 (MEG) and/or areas of high deprivation in Greater Manchester.
The evaluation was conducted by the University of Salford’s School of Health &
Society using a mixed methodology including analysis of quantitative data from
family self-assessment scores and qualitative data such as case studies, family
feedback and focus groups with volunteers and staff.
The findings of this report demonstrate that the Starting Well Project has
successfully achieved and exceeded the stated objectives of this project by:
• Reaching a larger number of volunteers and families from minority ethnic
groups.
• Ensuring volunteers are better equipped to offer peer support to families
from minority ethnic groups.
• Improving the coping skills and wellbeing outcomes of families from
minority ethnic groups during the critical first two years after the birth of
their child(ren)
In achieving these objectives, the Starting Well project has succeeded in
improving health outcomes for children from minority ethnic groups (MEG) in
Greater Manchester: helping parents to cope, improving their wellbeing and in
turn improving the life chances of their children. This achievement is impressive
given the unforeseen additional challenges created by the COVID 19 pandemic
occurring during a proportion of the life of this project.