Parent2Parent Rotheram

Many parents in Rotherham feel isolated and alone in caring for and nurturing their children. Informal evidence from our volunteers visiting in the Maternity Unit at Rotherham General Hospital suggests that traditionally perceived family support networks are diminished in many sectors of the community. Support and advice from experienced family members is often not readily available and traditional cultural norms often rejected or in process or radical change. This leaves many parents ignorant or confused about important and essential parenting skills. Often parents are left with no guidance to care for their children. This task of caring can be an onerous one, with a role that is often demanding, difficult and with (it seems at times) few rewards.

Parent 2 Parent (P2P) was founded to contact parents and give them the opportunity to share their experiences, to ask questions and to be given both practical support and simple advice to help them in their parenting role. Our volunteers working in the Rotherham General Hospital make contact with the majority of mothers after delivery of their babies. Our Project workers have established credibility with many parents in Rotherham, both by their activity in groups and increasingly by individual referrals from Social Services and Health Visitors for families in crisis, experiencing multiple deprivation.

We have the experience, expertise and community links to help parents in Rotherham to develop the skills they need. Focussing our work around three key areas (see below) allows us to work with parents in crisis but also to work with parents with preventative measures in order to allow them to acquire the skills they need to nurture their children.

Because of the nature of our work and the commitment we make to working both with parents and community groups and other statutory services, we believe we offer benefits in a number of relevant areas including:

• Child development - including emotional, social, intellectual, language and physical needs.
• Social exclusion
• Family relationships.
• Community life and development.
• Increased enjoyment of family life and a reduction in family breakdown.

In summary, Parent 2 Parent's key activities are:

• Support for individual parents - including befriending, encouragement, giving advice, advocacy and practical support;
• The provision of focussed positive parenting skills in individual parents and families as appropriate;
• The provision of group/course work on positive parenting skills - including understanding children's basic needs, discipline, tackling particular issues (sleep problems, eating habits, behaviour problems etc), time out for parents, and information and literature about local agencies who can be contacted for advice and help.

The Diocese of Sheffield is the parent body for Parent 2 Parent and provides professional support and financial management services to the Project (including personnel, payroll, and central administrative services). The Parish of Rotherham provides line management and accommodation for the Parent 2 Parent workers.

Parent 2 Parent operates from the All Saints Centre in central Rotherham. You can contact the project on 01709 365787, or via the Faith and Justice Office.