We ran our ‘Empowering Families’ course at a Sure Start Children’s Centre in Maidstone and the reaction was incredible. Even before we got half way the parents loved what they were achieving and wanted more training to be able to take the approach out into their community and support their peers. This inspired us to create a programme, which would take parents from where they are to where they wanted to be.

Success

Since then we were successful in funding a pilot Parent Champion programme with Awards for All (part of The Big Lottery Fund).

Even more Success

We have just completed a 2-year rollout of our pilot Parent Champion Programme which was funded with a further grant of £77,000 by the Big Lottery, in 2 Children’s Centres in Medway. Part of the funding allowed an independent evaluation by Canterbury Christ Church University click here to see some truly transformational outcomes for parents, children and families.

The differences in children’s behaviour was evidenced by, health, education and social services. But perhaps the most powerful evidence of all "gives a strong message that as a society we are underestimating children. When listened to, understood and empowered, they need not be passive recipients of ‘behaviour training’ but can contribute to loving, caring and the building of positive relationships in their own families and communities."

During the course of the programme our Parent Champion Level 2 and 3 courses were accredited by the Open College Network (the adult learning body) as equivalent to NVQ 2 and 3.

Sustainability

We are all on a high after a course and to maintain the changes made can be challenging and so we have created the Parent Champion Community to support those parents or carers that need a little inspiration. It's also a great Community to join and learn some new skills.

Progression

We are taking this powerful intervention into schools and working with teachers, pupils and parents together to change the culture of the learning environment, see details of our pilot Ethos of Empowerment here.

Your Community

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