Early Years Integration Team Honoured with Prestigious Regional Award

26 June 2025

The Early Years Integration Team has been named the ‘West Wales Regional Partnership Board (RPB) Team of the Year’, in recognition of their outstanding collaborative work supporting families and young children in the Gwendraeth Valley, Carmarthenshire.

This prestigious accolade celebrates excellence in partnership working and acknowledges the team’s measurable impact on the lives of local families. 

The Early Years Integration Team is a multi-agency initiative, bringing together midwives, health visitors, and Carmarthenshire County Council family support workers, all working under the Regional Integration Fund via the West Wales RPB.

Tina Taylor, Early Years Integration Team, Project Lead, said:

“We are absolutely delighted to receive this award. It’s a testament to the dedication and passion of every member of our team. We work tirelessly to ensure families in our community get the support they need, when they need it most.”

The team currently supports around 1,100 families, including 250 pregnant women and 1,200 children aged 0-5. Their work spans one-to-one in-home support for vulnerable families, closed referral-based groups, and open drop-in sessions. 

Their work focuses on several key areas, including early intervention and family wellbeing; tackling childhood obesity; school readiness; mental health support; support for children with ALN/ASD/ND and community building.

The aim is to empower families to progress through these levels of support until they no longer need intervention.

Dr Ardiana Gjini, Director of Public Health, praised the team’s efforts:

“A child’s first 1,000 days are critical in shaping their future. The Early Years Integration Team’s work with parents and communities is vital in giving every child the best possible start in life.

This award highlights the power of integrated, community-based support and the positive change that can be achieved through true partnership working.”