A RADICAL scheme which aims to improve the lives of families in Southampton is launched today.

Parents' Week forms part of a national ten-year drive designed to make the United Kingdom a better place to raise a family.

The Parents' Week initiative - also known as the "Family Friendly Campaign" - is aimed at improving the lives of grandparents, parents, carers, young people and children.

Two local examples of family support in the city are New Deal for Communities and SureStart.

New Deal for Communities (NDC) is a £50m programme based in Thornhill that is working to improve life for local people.

They are doing this in a number of ways, including improving health and education, enhancing the living environment, improving facilities for young people and reducing crime and unemployment.

The NDC Family Support Pro-gramme brings together local residents, the city council's Education and Health and Social Care directorates, Southampton City Primary Care Trust and Southampton University Hospitals Trust to work together to support families in caring for their children.

SureStart has three government-funded programmes in Southampton - Weston, Central and Millbrook, Redbridge and Maybush.

They all aim to help improve services for children aged up to four and their families through improved education, health, family support and other local services.

The Cabinet member for lifelong learning and training, Councillor Calvin Horner, said: "We are delighted that Parents' Week will highlight some of the city's excellent services."

Mary MacLeod, chief executive of the National Family and Parenting Institute, said: "In collecting the views of families to get the campaign under way, we have been struck by how many people have cited local support services as examples of what's family friendly."

For further information, call either Trish Roscoe, team manager at Family Resource Service, on 023 8083 3775 or the Children's Information Service on 0800 169 8833, or visit the Civic Centre where a Parents' Week information stand will direct people to local services.