Date: 2 April 2008
The success of a pilot scheme in East London
that helped more than 650 families in its first two months will be
unveiled at a conference later this month.
Success stories include the tale of two
mothers who, unable to face the world outside their homes after
having children, were able to overcome their fears thanks to the
scheme in Tower Hamlets.
It was as a Parent Champion on the Families
and Neighbourhoods’ scheme that Moymona Begum, a mum herself, was
able to help these particular mums. And she will be on hand to talk
of the scheme’s many successes at the 4Children and Barnado’s joint
conference, which is being run in partnership with the Families and
Neighbourhoods’ strand of Working Links.
Attending the event on 28 and 29 April at the
QEII Conference Centre in London, Moymona will be able to talk
about the innovative Parent Champion
model.
Moymona, along with the scheme’s other local
Parent Champions, have been working together to help families
improve their circumstances and those of their children. They have
been providing support to people, particularly in disadvantaged
communities, to help them access mainstream services such as formal
childcare.
“I wish I had someone like a Parent
Champion around when I was looking for information,” said Moymona,
who also works as a mid day supervisor at a local school. “There is
much confusion about what’s available and where and what it costs.
I absolutely believe it is the best thing to do with children. They
settle better, behave better and learn more.”
Being a Parent Champion allows Moymona to use
her experiences to help others find out what childcare provision is
available. It also means that she can help other parents to take
the first steps back to active involvement in the community through
education, training, volunteering or employment.
Jane Baxter, Head of Families and
Neighbourhoods, said: “We have an important role to play in helping
families, children and young people. We are committed to helping
more children out of poverty and the economic stability of families
is at the heart of what we do.
“We work in the heart of communities to
support families overcome any barriers so they can improve their
situations and the life chances of their children. Our Parent
Champion scheme is just one example of what we are doing and we are
already seen many benefits for families in Tower Hamlets.”
Ends
For further information please contact:
Sasha Rust-Andrews, Brand Manager
Tel: 07966 801173 or email:
sasha.rust-andrews@workinglinks.co.uk
Or Nicola Doughty, Press Officer
Tel: 07792 445512 or email:
nicola.doughty@workinglinks.co.uk
Notes to editors
- Families and Neighbourhoods
is the specialist arm of the well-established Working Links. It was
set up in 2007 to focus on the needs of children, young people and
families. It has initiated a number of successful pilot schemes and
within its first six months connected with almost 1,000
families.
- Working Links was founded in 2000 and
operates in almost 100 locations across England, Scotland and
Wales. It is a unique organisation that delivers services to tackle
social exclusion and poverty by helping disadvantaged individuals
and communities.
- Working Links’ belief that employment is the
best route out of poverty has helped 90,000 people back into the
workplace. It is a public-private-voluntary partnership between the
Government’s Shareholder Executive, Manpower, Capgemini and Mission
Australia. It delivers effective solutions by working in
partnership with organisations.
- 4Children is the national
charity dedicated to creating opportunities and building futures
for all children. It aspires to ensure that all children, young
people and families have access to a creative, safe and child
focused environment, and activities. 4Children provides an
information line for parents and childcare professionals with
advice and support on all aspects of childcare, including details
of out of school clubs in your area. For further information
contact Julie Watkins on 0207 522 6928 or julie.watkins@4Children.org.uk.