Change for Families encourages children's centres, schools, employment advisers and housing partnerships to work together to help families with multiple problems into work and out of poverty.
The programme has been developed in light of the Government's plans to trial payment-by-results in children's centres (News, 12-25 July).
It also aims to tackle barriers that stop people moving into employment or addressing learning needs, and provide training for practitioners on understanding disadvantage and ways to engage families.
Capacity director Margaret Lochrie said, 'Our research recognised that the problem in parenting is a lack of opportunities available to parents in their community. Skill deprivation has a major impact on parenting.'
'New opportunities'
Capacity has also published reports on two children's centres as examples of best practice.
HOPE (Holistic Opportunities for Play and Education) Family Centre in Bromyard, Herefordshire, developed from a small rural playgroup into a successful social business serving the community.
The centre's chief executive, Sheenagh Davis, said, 'The development of HOPE from a mums and toddlers group to a small playgroup and now into a family centre and social enterprise has provided new opportunities to enable families to become more self-reliant.'
The report, an example of best practice in supporting low incomes families out of poverty, commends the centre for its general approach to help the whole community feel less on the outside and make more of themselves.The children's centre is based in one of the most deprived areas in the country where one in three children live in poverty and one in six people are out of work. Broomfield has a large and diverse population, with many minority ethnic, Eastern European and traveller families living in the community.
Because Bromyard is a rural area parents also face problems accessing services. Due to a lack of transport, children’s participation in activities is restricted as are the opportunities available to them when the school day finishes.
In the last 12 years, HOPE has established itself as a successful social business, acquiring a nursery, running a charity shop and opening a store on the high street selling arts and crafts made by parents. Other facilities include a business centre to support small enterprises, an IT room, workshop space, community café and training kitchen.
The playgroup continues to be the main support for the 350 children and families that access the centre, with a focus on improving children’s outcomes. It is an inclusive setting with an above average proportion of children with special needs. In a recent Ofsted report it was judged to provide ‘exceptional support’ for children in their development towards Early Learning Goals.
HOPE also runs training and classes for families to access. They include a weekly computer drop in session, arts and crafts, Spanish classes, lessons on Skype and opportunities for personal learning and development.
A sewing and upholstery class was started for families who needed curtains or did not know how to sew name tags onto their children’s school clothes. Many of the attendants have gone on to use the skills they have learnt to become self-employed.
Sheenagh Davis, chief executive of HOPE Family Centre said, ‘The development of H.O.P.E. from a mums and toddler group to a small playgroup and now into a family centre and social enterprise has broadened horizons and provided new opportunities to enable families to become more self reliant.’
Another example of best practice, highlighted by Capacity, is Maden Community and Children’s Centre in Rossendale, Lancashire, which provides crucial support for families with young children.
As well as running a nursery, the setting offers a wide range of services and activities for children and their families including stay and play, support for early literacy and adult learning.
The Maden Centre also works closely with Social Care and the Lancashire Emotional Health Team, along with referring parents to JobCentre Plus and the Citizens Advice Bureau.
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