The poll of 1,180 adults found that 85 per cent felt that parenting,education and healthcare services would be useful and 90 per centbelieved they should be available to all.
However, it also found people perceived there to be a stigma attached toparenting classes, with 61 per cent saying they could be put offattending for fear of being labelled a 'bad parent'.
For the research, part of NCH's Growing Strong campaign, (News, 28 June2007), focus groups met with 48 parents, including users and non-usersof children's centres.
NCH is calling for the Government to provide universal access tochildren's centre services. It says the Government should supportrolling reviews of service outcomes to help centres develop moreeffective programmes.
Chief executive Clare Tickell said, 'Parents have overwhelmingly told usthey want more information and support with parenting, but that it needsto be given in a way that respects it is first and foremost theirresponsibility. We need to address the reasons why those most in needmight be put off accessing help. It's essential to develop a positiveculture where accessing advice is not seen as a sign of deficiency.'
Further information: 'Attitudes to building resilience in the earlyyears' is at www.nch.org.uk/growingstrong.
