A SCHEME that aims to give Southampton children a better start in life will open its new headquarters tomorrow.

Workers at Sure Start Central, which has already helped 400 families in the past two years, will see their first base at Northam Community Centre officially opened by the city's mayor, Councillor Parvin Damani.

The project has guaranteed government funding to operate for another eight years and covers the Holyrood, Northam, Newtown/Nicholstown, Golden Grove and Kingsland areas of the city.

It is part of a government initiative to improve the health and well-being of expectant mothers, children under four and their families through improved education, health, family support and other local services.

The new centre, which is the first of four bases to be opened in the area, will offer the local community services such as health visiting, training and skills development, community workers, midwifery and a creche linked to childcare training.

Families will also be able to drop in and find out more about what Sure Start Central can do for them.

Tomorrow's opening ceremony takes place during National Sure Start Month and follows the project's annual meeting.

People are invited to drop in to see what the centre has to offer, as well as enjoy entertainment such as a clown, henna painting, a raffle, story-telling and face-painting.

The work of the project is supported by a local management board chaired by Julie Greer.

She said: "It has been good to work with the diverse communities in central Southampton to make a national initiative meet the needs of local people."

Southampton City Council's Cabinet member for communities and regeneration Councillor Elizabeth Mizon said: "By developing Sure Start projects within our communities we are ensuring that hundreds of children and their families will get a better start in life.

"This project, with the two other Sure Start projects at Weston and Millbrook, Maybush and Redbridge, will see more children across the city benefit from improved services."