Bradford is Europe’s youngest city with 25,000 children aged from 0-5 years old. It is also one of the 20% most deprived authorities in England.

Research shows that children from disadvantaged backgrounds hear 30 million fewer words than their wealthier peers by the time they enter school. Too often, speech, language and communication skills are not prioritised in schools and nurseries.

A study from the National Literacy Trust and Experian found that Bradford is at high risk of literacy issues. Bradford East is ranked 36 out of 533 constituencies in England for literacy vulnerability, where one is the most in need of literacy including oracy.

Early and effective intervention at this age for children from disadvantaged backgrounds and for those with Special Needs has a profound, positive impact on their future health, happiness, employability and feelings of social inclusion.

The 50 Things to do Before You’re Five initiative was designed by Voice Bradford to promote oracy and communication skills by getting parents and children talking and doing things together. It is backed up with training from brilliant early years professionals who also lead a change in culture around oracy practice in early years.

The programme is based on the simple notion that access to life-changing, fun, low-cost or no-cost experiences with your family is a great way to support and develop young children’s oracy skills and confidence so that they enter primary school much more ready to learn and thrive.

Big Change is proud to have backed Voice Bradford to run a campaign to engage parents and practitioners to work together in supporting children’s oracy and speaking skills. 

This campaign became the highly successful parental engagement app, 50 Things To Do Before You’re Five. Since being funded by Big Change, they have seen:

• Over 50% of children in 50 Things to Do locations are making more than their expected levels of progress
• Over 70% of schools in 50 Things to Do locations are reporting significant improvements in parents’ engagement with school and their child’s learning
• 60% of schools reporting that 50 Things has significantly improved parents’ knowledge of the value of shared activities
• 50 Things To Do Before You’re Five has become a national programme working with over 23 Local Authorities across the country

In 2024, 50 Things to Do Before You’re Five was shortlisted for Nursery World's Working With Parents Award.

Christian is the Chief Executive Officer of Bradford Birth to 19 and has led the development from inception. After working in Leadership positions in Secondary Schools in London & Bradford, Christian moved to work in initial teacher training. 

Christian sits on the Bradford Opportunity Area Partnership Board and says the goal of positive social mobility through school improvement is at the heart of what drives him forward in his role.