New Parenting Support Project: Engaging Parents

'God himself is present in human fatherhood and motherhood' John Paul II Letter to Families

Ever since Family Life Ministry was introduced in Leeds Diocese we have offered a good selection of very reliable parenting programmes which parents themselves can run at home in schools and in parishes. The good news is that we now have funding to develop this work and have employed Anne Ruane (pictured here) as Parenting Support Worker (0113 2618050 / 07868535245 / psw@flm.org.uk). The funding, from a private donor, has been made available to us through the Bishops' Conference for England and Wales.

This new Parenting Support Project will provide accredited training for parents and others to provide enjoyable and enriching relationship education through schools and parishes. The main focus will be on developing positive family relationships and behaviour and offering parents and grandparents support in children's faith development and sacramental preparation. 

Parents and grandparents have found their lives transformed by these programmes. 

ALL parents struggle at some time. The difficulties are not confined to a particular class, creed, education, income, location, nationality or race. My own approach to parenting has been considerably helped (although it remains imperfect!) by meeting with other parents to talk about our concerns, share ideas for strategies that works and follow a clear, well organised and very well informed programme. Grandparents gain new insights too and are a source of confidence and encouragement. 

Most programmes come with a video and handbook and offer opportunities to talk about particular issues like behaviour, discipline, praise, assertiveness, how to talk about sex and so on. Most things that concern us as parents and grandparents are there.

You do not need to go to a parenting academy or on a course to run our parenting programmes. You simply need to have a desire to think about how you parent and a willingness to get together with family, friends, parishioners or other parents at school.

However,

If you would value having a certificate showing that you have completed the excellent (and nationally acreditted) training course in Group Leadership Skills and are willing to commit to offering parenting programmes in a Catholic school and/or parish in the Diocese of Leeds then we have places to offer on next year's training in March 2010 5 Training Days plus practical experience so please get in touch.

In this first year of the three year project we offered training in Leeds North Deanery through Cardinal Heenan Catholic High School and all its primary feeder schools and parishes and in all 16 people have so far been trained.

Next training: Hinsley Hall, Leeds, March 2010

We will advertise the details as soon as it is arranged. Parents, grandparents and appropriate school and parish workers are welcome to apply but must be nominated by their local Catholic school or parish.

If you are connected to these schools and parishes and care enough about family life to want to offer practical opportunities for mums, dads and grandparents to live their mission 'to guard, reveal and communicate love (Familiaris Consortio) then this could be for you! Talk to your parish priest or Head Teacher and contact us. 

Go to 'Parenting' and click on 'Training Courses' for the latest on this.