PARENTS can have a hand in improving the lives of their families by getting involved with a new Sure Start scheme.People living in the Whitton and Central areas of Ipswich are being encouraged to get involved in the second Sure Start scheme for the town.

PARENTS can have a hand in improving the lives of their families by getting involved with a new Sure Start scheme.

People living in the Whitton and Central areas of Ipswich are being encouraged to get involved in the second Sure Start scheme for the town.

As the Evening Star revealed earlier this year, substantial funding has been given to help parents, parents to be and children under four living in those two areas. More than 700 children will be covered by the new scheme.

Sure Start works with families and communities to make sure youngsters are given the best start in life.

The first one, the South East Ipswich Sure Start Scheme, was set up to cater for the Gainsborough, Greenwich, Priory Heath and Racecourse areas.

More than £2million funding was given to give equipment and support to families through the crucial early years of children's lives.

It has been such a success that another one is now being set up and families are being invited to put their views and say what they think is needed to improve where they live.

A partnership team has been set up by the Ipswich Primary Care Trust, Ipswich Borough Council and Suffolk County Council to develop the programme.

Jacqui Leith is the newly appointed programme manager for the second scheme.

She said: "The success of Sure Start schemes depends on the involvement of local parents as they, more than anyone, know what is needed to bring about improvements."

Two sessions are being held on Saturday for parents to go along to at Whitton Hall Primary School, Shakespeare Road between 10am and 12 noon or Handford Hall School on Gatacre Road between 2pm and 4pm.

For further information call Jacqui or Tamsin on 01473 329592.