Parenting group

Passionate about Parenting in Coventry

At Mothers' Union, we are passionate about parenting, and about helping you to enjoy being a parent more.  Bringing up children can be tough, with so many pressures and so much "good advice" around.  So, since 2000, we have been training members to be Accredited Facilitators, and to run informal groups for mothers and fathers, and sometimes grandparents, step-parents and carers too.

We now have 14 active Facilitators who use a variety of materials to run groups for parents all round the diocese, specially adapted to fit the needs of the parents who attend.  Sessions can include discussions, DVDs, working alone and in pairs and role play, and are aimed at helping parents to share experiences and learn from each other, rather than being taught what to do.

In 2011, we ran a course for Nepalese mothers at Bramcote Army Barracks, which went well, and the mums enjoyed the chance to practice their English too.  In November, groups are planned for Rugby, Henley in Arden and Leamington Spa. Felicity and sheep

A new resource has been produced by the Central Mothers’ Union, called Hand in Hand, which aims to help parents enjoy and encourage faith and spirituality in families.  It is available from the MU Office or from Mary Sumner House mu@themothersunion.org  price £2.  Felicity recently led a workshop at the Greenbelt Festival on Hand in Hand, giving parents a chance to try out some of the activities.  This included telling the story of the Lost Sheep, substituting the child’s name for the sheep. Nearly 40 copies of the booklet were sold as a result, and more ordered direct.

Parenting Report

After a very slow start to the year in terms of parenting groups, it looks as though we shall finish the year with a bang!  Our contract with Warwickshire Council to deliver seven What Should We Tell the Children about Relationships and Sex courses from January 2011 to March 2012 was looking seriously at risk, as we had delivered just one to the end of July.  But thanks to some contacts from Lorraine, who is an MU facilitator and works for the Parenting Team at WCC, we hope to deliver two courses in November and at least one in the new year.

Other opportunities we are exploring include another group in the Henley area, this time at Henley in Arden Primary School, for parents of Primary-age children, and an evening Seminar on bullying and building self-esteem at Aylesford School.  We are also talking to the leaders of Coffeetots in Coventry City Centre about running a group there with young parents. It is very pleasing that we finally seem to be reaching more deprived areas of the Diocese and I am very grateful to our facilitators who work so hard.

We have not been so fortunate with our new facilitators.  Sharon and Martin are still trying to get a group going in the Exhall area, though they hope to be able to run the course at Camp Hill. Of the three new facilitators from the course last July, one has moved to Nottingham to train for ordination, and the other two are struggling to complete their assignments.  But we hope they will eventually complete their accreditation.  Two facilitators who trained elsewhere have moved to the diocese – Linda to Mancetter, and Fiona to Budbrooke, so we have maintained our pool of facilitators at around 14. Also some of our facilitators are considering training to deliver Triple P, the course that Warwickshire Council favours, so that they can work with Council facilitators and help to fill gaps in provision as a result of funding cuts.

 The new Hand in Hand resource, helping families to enjoy and develop faith with their children, is now available, and I ran three workshops at Greenbelt on it, and will be doing a training day in Birmingham for the Midlands Dioceses in November.  If anyone would like more information, or would like me to talk to their Vicar and Baptism Team about the booklet, I am very happy to do that.

The Cathedral is launching a parenting initiative alongside the Alpha Course in November and we hope to be part of that in some way.  It would be good to work more closely with the wider Church on parenting, as it is a real means of outreach into the community, and one of the core structures for social cohesion.  It is also, of course, a central part of our MU mission and vision.

Felicity Hawke

Diocesan Parenting Coordinator

Felicity.hawke@btinternet.com 01926 857290

bridgetown group

If you think there is a group of parents who would appreciate some support for their parenting, do get in touch with Felicity felicity.hawke@btinternet.com)