Strengthening families and communities

Find out about our free 13-week parenting course starting on 11 January 2012.

The Strengthening Families, Strengthening Communities (SFSC) programme is designed to increase parents' confidence and skills, helping them to achieve positive change in their family relationships. Participants share knowledge and experience and learn practical, useful skills to help them address issues such as gangs, community and domestic violence, depression, drugs and alcohol.  The course also helps parents to look at the root causes of their own behaviour.

 
Recent graduates, above, with their certificates

Ten people graduated from the first course this summer. These men and women, from varying backgrounds, all wanted to see changes in their home lives; some learned discipline techniques and went on to spend 'special time' with their children. Others realised that they needed further support with anger issues.  And everyone who completed the course said they would recommend it to a family or friend. 

Here's some more feedback from the graduates:

"[The course] upped my self-esteem as a mum and woman."

"I feel that my kids can see a change in me, I’m a lot calmer."

"I’ve learnt a lot about myself."

"It gave me a different way of doing things." 

"It gave me different ways to discipline, there are lots of ideas that I wouldn't have come up with."

"I have a better connection with my child."

"I learnt how to be calm and positive." 

Family Support Worker Amy Caine said:

"One of SFSC's focus is on communities and during the 13 weeks the parents set up and run a Community Action Council, which continues after the course has ended. They aim to tackle the community issues that are affecting them and their families, such as the riots, gangs etc.

"One parent spoke at a conference about her involvement at SFSC and how the course helped her, as her son was a gang member. I believe that SFSC is central to building safer stronger communiteis. We constantly talk and aim towards a violence free healthy lifestlye for our children."

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