Up to £4 million will be ploughed into a scheme to reduce poverty in Hollingdean from September.

Linsey Wynton looks at what the scheme will mean and at one already up and running in Brighton.

Child poverty is a serious issue in parts of Brighton and Hove and early intervention is necessary to ensure children in the most deprived areas of the city get a decent start in life.

Since December 1999, a team of health and education experts has been working with parents of children aged four and under and parents-to-be in the seafront area of Brighton in a bid to prevent any future problems their children may have. It runs from Brunswick to Kemp Town and as far back as St Peter's Church.

The scheme, called Sure Start, is being funded with a £2.3 million Government grant during the next three years and has begun educating parents in a variety of areas including basic nutrition.

Brighton and Hove councillor Gill Mitchell, the lead councillor for early years, recalls visiting playgroups in the area where children were given fruit to eat. She said: "After they ate the fruit the play workers noticed the children had more energy and their concentration was better. It emerged that the children were not being given breakfast in the morning. Now Sure Start is funding free apples for these children and it is making a real difference to them.

"But the scheme is not just about giving things to parents and children. It's about teaching them what is important, for example, that their children need to have breakfast and fruit is good for you."

A second Sure Start scheme will be set up in Hollingdean in September and Coun Mitchell is about to begin consulting parents in the area to find out what sorts of projects they would like to have.

She said: "It's important to include the parents in the beginning. They will tell us how existing facilities need to be shaped to meet their needs. We can have an idea of what is needed but it is essential to have their input as they are the recipients.

"The scheme is really welcome news for families in the Hollingdean area with children under four. I hope it will close the childcare gap and be able to have extra childcare facilities in that area tailored to people's needs.

"Sure Start aims to be a one-stop point of contact, putting people in touch with healthcare and education facilities. The pattern of statutory provision tends to be all over the place and everyone has to find their own way through it.

"The scheme basically aims to improve the health and well-being of families and children from birth so they flourish by the time they go to school. Its long- term aims are to reduce issues including teenage pregnancies and teenage smoking and crime by laying solid foundations."

The bid for the Hollingdean Sure Start scheme secured Government approval because the area is, like the seafront area, among the 20 per cent of the most deprived in the country.

It is likely the Hollingdean scheme will include many of the projects funded by the seafront scheme which include support for families living with domestic violence, breast- feeding support, lone parents support, support for parents with substance misuse problems, help on giving up smoking, affordable healthy living ideas, services for children with special educational needs; support for families in temporary or poor accommodation, and a service advising parents on how to play with children.

The Play Link team visits families of children aged 18 months to two-and-a-half years, giving parents ideas on how to play with them.

Jan Sinkfield, the Play Link manager, said: "Parents often feel very isolated for a variety of reasons. Having a friendly contact who can put them in touch with other organisations and parents is a really good way of integrating people in the community.

"When I became a parent, at first I did not know anyone in my street and many parents who are new to the area may feel like this."

The seafront scheme was initially funded for three years. But it has been such a success it looks likely to be extended until 2004.

Catherine Lowery, the development worker at Sure Start's seafront scheme, said: "A lot of the projects we have done have been very innovative simply because we are not allowed to replace existing services.

"One of the main problems we face here is the lack of playgroup facilities and we are trying to offer more on that front but getting premises can be hard. We are also trying to set up a support network for parents but, again, finding a meeting place has not been easy."

One of the most innovative projects the group has funded has been a support service for nursery school children with English as a second language. Children are taken to nursery by a worker who speaks their language and who informs their parents about their progress at nursery.

Ms Lowery said: "This really makes the child feel included and it means the parents know what it going on at nursery. We also give these families books in both languages to help them improve their English and learn with their child."

Another project Ms Lowery feels proud of is an advocacy service in which parents who do not have English as their first language can find out about services on offer in the area. She said: "Previously there were only interpreters available for families with English as a second language who did not usually know about services available so this will make a real difference to people."

Parents have given positive feedback. One said she had received invaluable support with breast-feeding and that the creche had been a godsend to her. She has even begun voluntary work at the creches her son attends.

Another parent said: "Sure Start has helped us get a place in the creche for our daughter. My wife goes to English classes and our housing needs are nearly solved."

Parents of children aged four and under and parents-to-be from Hollingdean who would like to take part in the consultation on the Sure Start scheme should contact Councillor Mitchell on 01273 271177.