Working with parents
Interview - Pamela Park, chief executive of Parenting UK
Parenting UK, a national membership body for those who work with parents, has created a new scheme to encourage organisations to recognise the importance that family plays in the lives of their employees.
What is offered as part of the corporate membership scheme?
Organisations that join the scheme receive a free tailored parenting workshop for staff, delivered by a parenting expert, as well as discounts on further workshops. They are also sent e-newsletters for employees with tips and advice, along with access to more than 150 parenting support videos through website Parent Channel TV, designed to support parents with children aged five plus. We have plans to extend the videos to 0-5. The cost of the scheme is £2,500 a year.
How does the scheme benefit employers?
The scheme is a great way for organisations to contribute to their corporate social responsibility by giving their employees more confidence, improving people skills and well-being, as well as boosting employee motivation and reducing the number of work days lost through better family management.
What do you hope to achieve through the scheme?
Raising awareness of the vital role of good parenting has always been at the heart of Parenting UK's work. For many years we have campaigned for universal provision of parenting support, enabling all families to seek help when they need it.
Parenting plays such an important part in so many aspects of life that it cannot be ignored. The Government and many experts agree, as can be seen by recent policies around supporting families and the trial to give parents of children under five free parenting classes.
All parents can benefit from support, and we are working to help reduce the stigma which currently surrounds this, so parenting is seen as a skill which can be learned and improved. By encouraging employers to join the scheme, we believe it will help to normalise finding support by introducing more people to the benefits and making it easier to access.
Why do you think it will work?
We believe this new and innovative corporate membership scheme will give organisations the tools and resources to support employees in their parenting, one of the most important jobs in the world, and contribute to ensuring all children grow up happy and healthy.
Further information
