Commissioned by The Race Equality Foundation
In early 2024, CAHN partnered with the Race Equality Foundation to deliver a parenting course as part of our Community Empowerment and Advocacy Department. This programme was designed to support community members navigating challenges with children’s services and local authorities. However, participation was open to anyone seeking parenting knowledge, regardless of their personal circumstances.
We received over 30 expressions of interest. The course officially launched with 14 confirmed participants, and 12 successfully completed the programme, equipping them with valuable skills and knowledge to support their parenting journey.
Group Make-up
The 13-week parenting course was delivered in person, with sessions held every Friday from 10 am to 1 pm. Breaks were incorporated throughout the programme, including half-term and holiday periods. As a group-based learning course, it attracted a diverse range of participants in terms of gender, faith, and ethnicity. Some attendees were navigating challenges with social workers and local authorities, with successful course completion being a requirement for progressing in their cases.
Outcomes and Feedback
To meet the required quality standards, the Race Equality Foundation set accreditation conditions for our centre. We are pleased to share that, following the course delivery, CAHN successfully obtained accreditation. Additionally, the programme was recognised as best practice, leading to a feature on the Race Equality Foundation’s website in an article titled Collaborating with the Caribbean & African Health Network (CAHN) to Deliver our Strengthening Families and Strengthening Communities and Reducing Parental Conflict Programmes.
Graduates of the course saw tangible improvements in their family situations. Many participants who were on statutory Child Protection Plans successfully stepped down from these plans, gaining greater stability and improved family dynamics.
Attendee feedback:
Collaborations with the Race Equality Foundation
CAHN has actively contributed to various initiatives led by the Race Equality Foundation, strengthening our shared commitment to supporting families and promoting positive parenting.
- Father’s Day Feature: We provided insights for an article highlighting how the Strengthening Families, Strengthening Communities (SFSC) programme empowers fathers in their parenting journey. Here is what we had to say: A Male Perspective on the SFSC: Stronger Relationships Programme.
- Reducing Parental Conflict Initiative: As part of this project, we co-developed a structured parenting plan with the Race Equality Foundation, designed to support co-parents navigating conflict. Our contributions were praised for being insightful, practical, and highly effective as a conflict-resolution tool.
