Parenting Fund Project

The Supporting Parenting through Adult and Community Education (SPACE) project is a two year initiative (Apr 2009—Mar 2011) funded by the Department for Children, Schools and Families. The project aim is to develop existing provision to deliver flexible and accessible community based parenting skills programmes in less well served communities in Birmingham. Target parent groups include members of settled Black and Minority Ethnic (BME) and new migrant communities, ‘offenders’ and those at risk of homelessness. By the end of the project we expect to develop new partnerships with statutory/voluntary organisations, engage 450 beneficiaries in parenting education programmes and recruit 10 volunteers to mentor less confident learners.

Outreach work is taking place with a range of agencies committed to engaging parents who do not currently participate in structured learning. Tutors have been recruited and inducted and courses have already commenced with new WEA learners in new venues. Examples of programmes include;

•  Everyday Maths
• A pre-NVQ course to prepare learners for a NVQ qualification in childcare
• Living with the under 8's
• Help your child with Maths or English