My First Five Years, a mobile app, was launched in January 2022. It aims to provide parents with the best advice and resources around child development and  educational play to help their child thrive from birth to five years old, while also building a supportive online community of parents.

The app is based around Jennie and her co-founder, Alistair Bryce-Clegg’s, combined 50+ years of experience in the childcare sector. It focuses on seven streams of learning for children, including cognitive, gross motor and fine motor development, at each appropriate age stage.

The app centres around allowing each child to develop at their own pace and helping parents to encourage development. It also features chronological scrapbook tools for parents to save and share memories of their child’s early years, and has an online library for those who wish to deepen their learning about childhood development.

The app is free to download, with a range of monthly subscription options and is offered with a free 14-day trial to all users. However, the company is also looking to work with charity partners to facilitate free access to parents on low incomes, ensuring that all parents are able to benefit from the knowledge available.

Jennie Johnson MBE, CEO of My First Five Years, commented: “Traditionally, parenting skills simply get handed down with each generation, but actually understanding the science and research behind their development could play a much greater role in offering the best start in life for our children.

“Our aim for the app is to pass on the knowledge that we have gained over years of experience to help a greater number of parents – especially first-time parents – overcome some of the anxiety that they often feel and to celebrate the moments, not just the milestones.”

The finance from Triodos Bank, which lends solely to organisations delivering positive social, environmental or cultural impact, sits alongside seed funding and finance from the Greater Manchester Combined Authority fund.

This is the second time that Triodos Bank has worked with Jennie Johnson. In 2018, the bank financed the expansion of Kids Allowed, a children’s nursery group based in Greater Manchester and Cheshire, which was founded by Jennie in 2003. The business was sold in 2020 to Kids Planet, another award-winning nursery group. 

Rob Keegan, business banking regional manager for the North of England at Triodos Bank UK, said: “Triodos recognises the importance of offering the best start in life for all children, and has provided finance for a range of education settings, from special education schools to nurseries.

“We’re pleased to be working with Jennie once again, to help her bring her specialist knowledge and understanding of children’s development to a much wider audience.”

Jennie added: “I hope that the impact of the app won’t just be felt by the parents and children using it, but that the knowledge will be passed down to future generations.”

-Ends-
 

Notes to editors

For further information and photos please contact:

Ellie James, Triodos Bank

About My First Five Years

My First Five Years is an innovative new company that launched its brand-new parenting community and app in January 2022.

The founders Jennie Johnson MBE (Kids Allowed) and Alistair Bryce-Clegg (ABC Does) bring over 50 years of experience in early years to My First Five Years.

About Triodos Bank

Founded in 1980, Triodos Bank has become a frontrunner in sustainable banking globally. As an independent bank that promotes responsible and transparent banking, it does not see any conflict between a focus on people and the planet and a good financial return. Instead, it believes that they reinforce each other in the long-term.

Triodos Bank has banking activities in the Netherlands, Belgium, the UK, Spain and Germany as well as Investment Management activities based in the Netherlands but active globally. Triodos Bank co-founded the Global Alliance for Banking on Values (GABV), a network of 63 sustainable banks. Together these banks want to grow sustainable banking and its impact on the real economy substantially.

Triodos Bank UK Ltd is a wholly owned subsidiary of Triodos Bank NV. Registered Office: Deanery Road, Bristol, BS1 5AS. Registered in England and Wales Company No. 11379025. Authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority under registration number 817008. VAT reg no 793493383.

This financial promotion has been issued and approved by Triodos Bank UK Limited for the purposes of section 21 of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000. Triodos Bank UK Ltd. Registered Office: Deanery Road, Bristol, BS1 5AS. Registered in England and Wales with registered number 11379025. Authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority under registration number 817008. Details about the extent of our regulation by the Financial Conduct Authority and Prudential Regulation Authority are available from us on request.