News Release
Denise Lewis backs campaign to support struggling parents
The Real Parents campaign, launching this Mother's Day (26th March), is
hoping to recruit home-visiting
volunteers to help struggling parents, including more volunteers from
black, minority and ethnic communities. This unique campaign from
volunteering charity TimeBank and national family support charity
Home-Start, is encouraging people with parenting experience to offer
emotional support and practical help to families who are struggling to
cope.
Real Parents is being supported by a host of celebrities including chat show host Trisha Goddard and Olympian Denise Lewis, who is expecting her second child. Denise said:
"Being a mother with another child on the way, I know how easy it is to feel overwhelmed by the demands of being a parent of young children. When things get tough, some friendly advice can really help you put things in perspective, that's why I'm backing the Real Parents campaign.
"I hope parents will be inspired to use their valuable experience to help families who could be struggling because of post-natal depression, multiple births, being new to an area or any other reason."
New research commissioned to launch the campaign reveals that three quarters of parents would seek support from family, friends or neighbours, compared with less than half who would consult professional or official sources like childminders, health visitors or TV programmes. (1). Struggling parents want support from peers who can empathise and relate to the difficulties they are experiencing.
Sue Everitt, Home-Start Director of Planning, Policy and Practice said:
"Home-Start's schemes are rooted in ethnically diverse communities across the UK. We want our volunteers to reflect the diversity of those communities. And we would like everyone who has parenting skills to know Home-Start wants and needs them to get involved."
Across the UK Home-Start supports nearly 4,787 families from black and minority ethnic backgrounds. The charity has 1,537 volunteers from black and minority ethnic backgrounds who support families in their own homes. A further 110 black and minority ethnic volunteers support Home-Start's work with families in support groups, running toy libraries and in other ways.
The survey showed most people find being a parent of young children difficult - more than two thirds said their life was easier before having children, one in four admitted they didn't cope easily and nearly one in five worry that other people are more competent parents. Home-Start volunteers help parents who may be struggling for many reasons; for example, with post-natal depression, multiple births, disabilities, isolation, family breakdown or through becoming parents at a young age.
Buki Jackson, a Home-Start volunteer from Norwich said:
"I started working with Home-Start because I thought it would be nice to give something back. I know how hard it is to be a mother so it is great to be able to share my experiences with others.
"Just giving two hours a week can make such a difference to someone's life and I find it really satisfying to be able to help out."
The survey showed an amazing 98% of people felt they had gained or developed skills as a result of being a parent. The most commonly gained assets were knowledge of health/ safety/ development of young children (93%), listening (90%) and patience (87%). People also said they developed practical skills like budgeting (73%) and housekeeping and cooking skills (64%).
Home-Start volunteers bring all the knowledge they've gained as parents to the families they support, helping to build the confidence of vulnerable parents and encouraging them to manage independently. In return, volunteers feel valued and the experience they gain supporting families can even help them get back to work or change careers.
To find out more about becoming a Home-Start volunteer visit www.realparents.org.uk or call 0845 601 4008 or text 07766 40 41 42.
Ends.
For more information, survey results, interviews with spokespeople/ case studies and further celebrity quotes/ parenting confessions, please contact Fiona McBain on 020 7785 6389 or email f.mcbain@timebank.org.uk
Notes to Editors
1) BMRB Omnibus Survey 13th February 2006 commissioned by TimeBank to launch the Real Parents campaign. Sample size 582.
2) TimeBank is a national charity, inspiring and connecting people to give and share time. See www.timebank.org.uk for more information.
3) Home-Start's informal and friendly support for families with young children provides a lifeline to thousands of parents and children in over 337 communities across the UK and with forces families in Germany and Cyprus. See www.home-start.org.uk for more information.
4) Add your name to our media mailing list and you'll receive regular press releases from TimeBank keeping you updated on new campaigns and activity. Visit our online Media Centre for more information www.timebank.org.uk/mediacentre
5) Campaign web address and text number will be activated w/c 20 March 2006.
Real Parents is being supported by a host of celebrities including chat show host Trisha Goddard and Olympian Denise Lewis, who is expecting her second child. Denise said:
"Being a mother with another child on the way, I know how easy it is to feel overwhelmed by the demands of being a parent of young children. When things get tough, some friendly advice can really help you put things in perspective, that's why I'm backing the Real Parents campaign.
"I hope parents will be inspired to use their valuable experience to help families who could be struggling because of post-natal depression, multiple births, being new to an area or any other reason."
New research commissioned to launch the campaign reveals that three quarters of parents would seek support from family, friends or neighbours, compared with less than half who would consult professional or official sources like childminders, health visitors or TV programmes. (1). Struggling parents want support from peers who can empathise and relate to the difficulties they are experiencing.
Sue Everitt, Home-Start Director of Planning, Policy and Practice said:
"Home-Start's schemes are rooted in ethnically diverse communities across the UK. We want our volunteers to reflect the diversity of those communities. And we would like everyone who has parenting skills to know Home-Start wants and needs them to get involved."
Across the UK Home-Start supports nearly 4,787 families from black and minority ethnic backgrounds. The charity has 1,537 volunteers from black and minority ethnic backgrounds who support families in their own homes. A further 110 black and minority ethnic volunteers support Home-Start's work with families in support groups, running toy libraries and in other ways.
The survey showed most people find being a parent of young children difficult - more than two thirds said their life was easier before having children, one in four admitted they didn't cope easily and nearly one in five worry that other people are more competent parents. Home-Start volunteers help parents who may be struggling for many reasons; for example, with post-natal depression, multiple births, disabilities, isolation, family breakdown or through becoming parents at a young age.
Buki Jackson, a Home-Start volunteer from Norwich said:
"I started working with Home-Start because I thought it would be nice to give something back. I know how hard it is to be a mother so it is great to be able to share my experiences with others.
"Just giving two hours a week can make such a difference to someone's life and I find it really satisfying to be able to help out."
The survey showed an amazing 98% of people felt they had gained or developed skills as a result of being a parent. The most commonly gained assets were knowledge of health/ safety/ development of young children (93%), listening (90%) and patience (87%). People also said they developed practical skills like budgeting (73%) and housekeeping and cooking skills (64%).
Home-Start volunteers bring all the knowledge they've gained as parents to the families they support, helping to build the confidence of vulnerable parents and encouraging them to manage independently. In return, volunteers feel valued and the experience they gain supporting families can even help them get back to work or change careers.
To find out more about becoming a Home-Start volunteer visit www.realparents.org.uk or call 0845 601 4008 or text 07766 40 41 42.
Ends.
For more information, survey results, interviews with spokespeople/ case studies and further celebrity quotes/ parenting confessions, please contact Fiona McBain on 020 7785 6389 or email f.mcbain@timebank.org.uk
Notes to Editors
1) BMRB Omnibus Survey 13th February 2006 commissioned by TimeBank to launch the Real Parents campaign. Sample size 582.
2) TimeBank is a national charity, inspiring and connecting people to give and share time. See www.timebank.org.uk for more information.
3) Home-Start's informal and friendly support for families with young children provides a lifeline to thousands of parents and children in over 337 communities across the UK and with forces families in Germany and Cyprus. See www.home-start.org.uk for more information.
4) Add your name to our media mailing list and you'll receive regular press releases from TimeBank keeping you updated on new campaigns and activity. Visit our online Media Centre for more information www.timebank.org.uk/mediacentre
5) Campaign web address and text number will be activated w/c 20 March 2006.
