LEAP CoCreate Partnership shortlisted in CYP Now Awards

Lambeth Early Action Partnership’s CoCreate initiative was shortlisted for the Partnership Working category in the CYP Now Awards 2023. The Awards were presented by Children’s television and CBeebies presenter, Cerrie Burnell at London’s Hurlingham Club last night (23 November 2023).LEAP was one of four organisations to be shortlisted in this category. 

The Children & Young People Now Awards have become the gold standard for everyone working with children, young people, and families. 

The Partnership Working Award is presented to the multi-agency project or team that has made the greatest improvement to the lives of children, young people, and families. Judges look for evidence of how the creation of the partnership has strengthened delivery and outcomes.

LEAP’s CoCreate initiative is a partnership model. Since September 2021, CoCreate has supported the development and delivery of early years initiatives by 14 community-based organisations. LEAP’s CoCreate Fund provides funding, support, and expertise to local voluntary sector organisations to deliver early years programmes across Lambeth. These voluntary and community sector organisations are small-scale and reach communities often isolated from or not reached by statutory early years services.

LEAP is focussed on addressing inequalities in early childhood. The LEAP CoCreate partnership was set up to address this challenge, with the specific objective of ensuring effective outreach and engagement of families who may benefit the most from the local early years offer.

As Davina Belcher, CoCreate Partnerships Manager, LEAP explains:

“We are proud that the work of our innovative CoCreate partnership has been recognised in the CYP Now Awards. By working through a network of community-based organisations, LEAP’s CoCreate partnership is able to ensure that some of the most isolated families are connected, not only to services on offer through the partnership but are also linked up to broader early years services in Lambeth. Between October 2021 and September 2023 CoCreate partners delivered 214 sessions or initiatives, benefiting 556 children and 535 parents and caregivers."

Participating organisations provide early years programmes and activities at community level, engaging parents with young children in their local area to promote healthy, happy childhoods. LEAP brings these organisations together to provide a holistic offer for families across Lambeth. LEAP provides early years expertise, training, learning, and networking opportunities, and monitoring and evaluation support. 

You can find out more about LEAP's CoCreate Fund here: https://www.leaplambeth.org.uk