History

The Northwest area of Cork City has a strong community identity and a history of community mobilisation to improve services and the lives of people living in the area. In the past 40 years there have been many advancements in service and amenity provision in the area. It is a densely populated area, close to the City Centre on one side and countryside on the other. However, it has been identified as an area of socioeconomic disadvantage, marked by low education attainment and high levels of unemployment. Experiencing early adversity and disadvantage can lead to life-long educational, social, physical, and mental difficulties. However, prevention and early intervention approaches can intervene, and establish the foundations for life long improved outcomes.

In 2011/2012, professionals across different disciplines, services, and sectors working in Knocknaheeny and surrounding areas came together to envision how they could work together differently, to improve quality of life and childhood outcomes. This group looked nationally and internationally at research evidence and best practice. Together, as a Consortium and with support from Social, Economic and Environmental Plan (SEEP) Funding from Cork City Council, a Prevention and Early Intervention Programme was designed. It was called Young Knocknaheeny and was hosted by Niche Health Project Cork (NICHE).

At the end of 2013 the Consortium submitted a successful bid to become part of, and funded by, the national Area Based Childhood Programme (ABC Programme). This government initiative, under the Department of Children, aimed to grow area-based Prevention and Early Intervention services in Ireland, to address the cycle of intergenerational childhood poverty.

In 2014 the 12 ABC Programme sites across Ireland developed a 3-year logic model, implementation plan, budget, and national evaluation plan. Work also began on bringing a shared understanding of and the development of skills in Infant Mental Health (IMH) to our area. Trainings and workshops were provided throughout the community. This knowledge base became the foundation of the work and approach of the organisation up to the present day.

A staff team started with Young Knocknaheeny in January 2015, including secondments from the Health Service Executive (HSE). They began delivering the programme of work around four interconnected strategies, and offered programmes both to families and professionals working in the area. Young Knocknaheeny also provided dedicated administrator hours to the Kidscope Paediatric Clinic. In addition, Young Knocknaheeny joined the National ABC Programme Managers Forum, and became a member of the Prevention and Early Intervention Network (PEIN).

In 2016 a Senior Psychologist joined the team as an IMH Specialist through secondment. The Infant Mental Health Home Visiting Service began, which was informed by the Michigan Association of Infant Mental Health Programme. From then until 2020 Young Knocknaheeny continued to expand service delivery, by developing the role of the seconded Public Health Nurse (PHN); specialising in the prebirth to age three period of child development; extending the range of programmes offered; and beginning to co-facilitate programmes with community partners. An assessment of quality in Early Years Care and Education Settings was conducted, and the Early Years Mentor programme began.

In 2018 Young Knocknaheeny’s Let’s Learn Together 3-year Process and Outcome Evaluation was launched by The Ombudsman for Children in St Peters, Cork. The report highlighted the progress and impact of the programme. Between 2019-2023 an employment-based PhD candidate, funded by the Irish Research Council, conducted research into the Kidscope Paediatric Clinic.

In 2018 the national ABC Programme began the transition from the management of Pobal and the Centre for Effective Services to Tusla, the Child and Family Agency. The ABC Programme was now positioned within the Prevention, Partnership and Family Support (PPFS) structure, and became mainstreamed for annual ringfenced funding. At the same time, NICHE went beyond their original 3-year commitment to host Young Knocknaheeny, and the management group decided to create a separate, independent organisation, to continue the work and allow it to grow and develop.

Let’s Grow Together! Infant & Childhood Partnerships was established as a Company Limited by Guarantee and registered with the Companies Office under a newly formed Board of Directors. All staff and activities transferred to the new organisation in 2021. The Board of Directors began working to become a Registered Charity, developing a business plan and strategic plan, and committed to the Charity Governance Code.

During the transition to Let’s Grow Together, the COVID-19 pandemic spread across the world. The strict and long restrictions and lockdowns in Ireland forced programmes to be provided very differently. Many local children and families were deeply impacted by the restrictions, from the lack of social interaction, school closures, services cancellations, employment loss and uncertainty, financial instability, family health and wellbeing. Young Knocknaheeny and then Let’s Grow Together continued to provide community outreach and programmes to support families in the area. The team also worked to research and highlight the impact of the restrictions on children and their development.

Let’s Grow Together was officially launched by An Taoiseach Micheál Martin on 4^th June 2021. The launch took place online, hosted by James Leonard and Timmy Long from The Two Norries podcast. It featured children, families, team members, and international experts Kevin Nugent, Lise Johnson, and Yvette Blanchard from the Brazelton Institute at Boston’s Children’s Hospital. At the event, Tanya Ward, CEO of Children’s Rights Alliance, launched the ‘Many Voices of Let’s Grow Together!’ report on the development of the first 5-Year Strategic Plan. This report provides an illustration of the continued commitment and expertise developed, to include the voice of children, families, and the local community in service planning and implementation.

The primary location of work for Let’s Grow Together is in the Northwest area of Cork City. The geographical catchment area has expanded twice, to its current boundaries. Sunday’s Well and the River Lee border the south, leading to the City Centre. The north and west sides of the area are bordered by countryside. Commons Road through Blackpool provides the east boundary.

This area of the city is rich in history and community identity. Many services were established out of community participation, supporting one another and the area. The area is undergoing a long-standing housing regeneration programme, delivering high quality homes. There have also been developments in primary care services, parks and recreation, with further plans for Bus Connects, a Regional Park, and a NorthLink distributor road. There are a variety of primary, post-primary, and further education settings providing choice for families in the area.

From the 2022 CSO Census, there were 224,000 people living in Cork City. Across the Northwest sector, there were 27,927 people, including 1,214 babies and children aged 0-4 years.