Parenting support
Being a parent is one of the most important jobs there is - it is also one of the hardest. The hours are long, there is no pay and not a lot of gratitude. Little attention is paid to preparing people for this vital role - yet parents are the key to giving children a happy and stable childhood.
Poverty, unsuitable and insecure housing, domestic violence, lone parenthood, and being a teenage parent can all disrupt a parent's ability to cope, and families under stress need extra support.
Facts
- 61% of British parents describe parenting as 'fairly' or 'very difficult'
- the UK has one of the highest rates of conception among girls under 16 in Europe
- 94% of parents say it is helpful to talk to another person about parenting problems
Barnardo's Work
Over 30 of our projects aim to provide good experiences for children by helping parents build on their skills and strengths and to enjoy being a parent. We also have 47 projects working with teenage parents who due to destructive life experiences and little family support often need extra help.
The work includes parenting groups and one-to-one work with parents through our network of family centres, community-based parenting programmes, specialised work with parents who have particular needs.
Often, projects organise eight-or nine-week long courses covering a different topic each week. These topics include listening to children, talking to children, giving them responsibility, problem solving and discipline. The courses give parents a chance to step back and think about some of the things they are doing and how to improve.
We also help girls who become pregnant whilst still at school by providing support to enable them to finish their education and prepare for parenthood. These young women often have an erratic history of school attendance, yet most leave the unit having achieved a number of GCSEs and gained confidence and parenting skills.
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| © Barnardo's 2008
Barnardo's is a charity (216250 SC037605)
and a company limited by guarantee (61625 England - see the governing document).
Registered office: Tanners Lane, Barkingside, Ilford, Essex IG6 1QG
| VAT number 507477337
