“Billy – Our Barnsley Baby”: our latest Director of Public Health report illustrates how we’re prioritising the first 1,001 days of a child’s life

We’re proud to announce the arrival of our Director of Public Health Annual Report for 2025, which takes the form of a beautifully illustrated book, titled “Billy – Our Barnsley Baby”.

This charming storybook shows how we’re prioritising the first 1,001 days of a child’s life and how everyone has a part to play in helping our children lead happy, healthy, fulfilling lives.

The report focuses on a significant time in a child’s early development, from conception to age two. This period is the perfect time to lay the foundations for lifelong health, wellbeing and success. 

It’s also a priority area in our new Healthy Life Expectancy Strategy, setting out how we will build on what’s already working locally to continue improving health outcomes. 

By placing a rigorous focus on the first 1,001 days, we hope to give our children the best possible start in life. 

A copy of Billy – Our Barnsley Baby will be offered to all families of newborn Barnsley babies during their new birth visit with a health visitor over the next 12 months.

The storybook weaves in rich insights about this health mission through an engaging story and stunning illustrations.

Billy’s insightful, heart-warming tale captures the journey and joys of parenthood and the first two years of a child’s life.

The story of Billy and his family combines personal anecdotes and evidence-based health information about early-years development. 

By mapping Billy’s journey through exciting milestones, from his first moments and weeks of life to joining playgroups and nursery, we hope readers will find his story useful and inspiring. 

Anna Hartley, Barnsley’s Director of Public Health and Executive Director of Public Health and Communities, said:

“We know it is really important to play our part to help children thrive in their first 1,001 days of life. We are working with our partners to make this a priority.

"By focusing on this vital period, we can help children and families be healthier, happier, and have better chances in life.

"We want every child to grow up well and have the best start in life, now and in the future.”

Cllr Stan Bryan, Cabinet Spokesperson for Adult Social Care and Integrated Health, said:

“I hope this report gives mums and dads who are expecting a baby or have just had one some good ideas to help their child have the best start in life.

"We want everyone to work together to help young children grow up strong, happy, and healthy, so we can build a Healthy Barnsley where everyone can do well.”

The annual Director of Public Health Report is always a reflection of work that has taken place in the previous year.

It’s an important way to provide advice and recommendations to both professionals and the public.

Past reports have covered:

• how the pandemic affected children and young people living in Barnsley

• how people felt regarding their physical and mental health

• an insight into the impact of loneliness on our residents’ lives in a digital world

• how we responded to the cost-of-living crisis, to mitigate the impact on people’s health, both immediately, and in the longer term. 

Find out more about our ambition for everyone in Barnsley to live a happy life in good physical and mental health on our Healthy Barnsley webpage,

Read more about our Director of Public Health Report for 2025.