Race Equality Foundation - Development
Supporting the development of effective support for black and minority ethnic parents
Background
As part of the DfES Family Support Grant 2003-2004 a specific strand of funding was identified to support voluntary organisations for work with black and minority ethnic parents specifically to help them with their parenting skills. Organisations would be supported if their projects focussed on either supporting refugee parents with their parenting and/or supporting parents who are struggling with parenting teenagers. Additionally, projects that were local were expected to identify how they would have more than local significance by year three. The Family Policy Unit made seven grants under this strand. In the 2004-2005 round of grants, a further five organizations received funding.
It was recognised that these projects would benefit: from linking in to existing resources, networks and organisations working around parenting; having opportunities to develop peer support and participate in mentoring; developing the organisations' skills to foster support of parenting; and that the wider impact of this strand would be enhanced by central co-ordination and dissemination. REU has been asked to carry out this work.
How are we doing this work?
REU is reviewing the needs of Strand C organisations; providing developmental support through a number of structured workshops per year (including linking in with existing and new resources); and offering and providing one to one telephone and face-to-face support to each project. We are also providing opportunities for training needs to be met. Workshop topics have included Evaluation; Working with fathers; Outreach; Presentation skills and Promoting parenting inside and outside your organisation.
In years two and three the objectives will be expanded to disseminate learning. A major conference "Diversity in Parenting" that showcased the project work took place on 9 th February 2006 in London. In addition the existing Parenting Education Support Forum (PESF) newsletter will be used as a forum for exchanging information. REU will co-operate with to achieve these aims and deliver these tasks (see www.parenting-forum.org.uk). Furthermore we will draw-in projects working with black and minority ethnic parents, but funded in previous years or different strands of the Family Support Grant.
Outcomes
Black and minority voluntary organisations will be better equipped in knowledge and organisational practice to provide support for families.
A set of Practice Notes titled Exploring the development of better support for diverse parents: the experience of twelve voluntary organisations is available from the REU office on 020 7619 6226 or download here.
Details of current grants available to support parenting work can be found at http://www.surestart.gov.uk/surestartservices/support/families/ and at http://www.parentingfund.org/
For further information on the project contact Ronny Flynn on 020 7619 6236 or email ronny@racefound.org.uk.
Useful Race Equality Foundation publications
- It takes a whole village to raise a child by Pat Joseph and Ratna Dutt
- Discussion paper 2: Supporting black and minority ethnic parents through the provision of childcare by Leandra Box, Tracey Bignall and Jabeer Butt
- Discussion paper 3: Supporting fathers as parents by Tracey Bignall and Jabeer Butt
- Discussion paper 4: Parenting by Tracey Bignall and Jabeer Butt
- Discussion paper 5: Supporting black and minority ethnic young people by Leandra Box, Tracey Bignall and Isabella Bedi
- Discussion paper 7: Family support for parents and families with additional needs by Tracey Bignall, Leandra Box and Sharon Otoo
Click here to see all Race Equality Foundation publications.