Xiaohongshu
Who are Parent Champions?
Parent Champions are parent volunteers who give a few hours a week to talk to other parents about the local services available to families. Coram Family and Childcare developed the Parent Champions programme in 2007 to help marginalised or isolated parents who miss out on vital information about how to access local family services.
The Parent Champions model is delivered by parents for parents, with the support of a local authority, children’s centre, school or local community organisation.
By sharing personal experiences of using a local service for their children, Parent Champions can build trust and put any worries at ease for other parents. This will encourage parents to make the best of the help available to them and their children.
By becoming a Parent Champion, you can help to grow your confidence and transferable skills, which creates a pathway for training and employment whilst also giving back to your local community.
What do Parent Champions do?
After some training, you will be able to direct parents to the organisations that could best help them, like a local children’s centre or a Family Information Service. By connecting parents with the local services that can help, you will be making a vital contribution to the lives of families you come across and to your wider community. Here are some things you can expect to do as a Parent Champion:
- Talk with a parent or small group about your positive experience of using nurseries, stay and play groups or other local services.
- Answer questions about how you and your child felt about using childcare or other services and about how you dealt with any issues you faced.
- Explain what the benefits of childcare and other services can be to parents who may not be aware or may have a negative view of childcare.
- Inform parents where to get advice and information about finding and using childcare and how to get involved in their child’s early education.
- Set up or help out at information sessions or at open days for parents.