Young Parents

New qualifications for pregnant teenagers and young parents

Awarding body Edexcel has teamed up with the Nationwide Community Learning Partnership (NCLP) to offer two new accredited training programmes for delivery to young parents and parents-to-be. These programmes are recognised nationally at government level and by the Learning and Skills Council.

The new qualifications combine the acclaimed Young Mums To Be (YMTB) and Parents with Prospects (PWP) training programmes - taking learners through the journey of pregnancy and the early years of a child's life as well as looking to their future and required work skills. The new qualifications will be known as the Edexcel Parenting Award and Certificate for Parents-to-be and the Edexcel Award and Certificate in Parenting.

The YMTB programme along with PWP has been running in recognised centres nationally for the past 12 years. These courses are run by a number of different organisations including Sure Start, Connexions, Children's Centres, YWCA, YMCA Training, NACRO and Pupil Referral Units.

The courses are flexible in their delivery ranging from two hours a week to three days; involve multi-agency working; and have been developed to meet the needs of young people from differing social, cultural and educational backgrounds.

For more information go to the NCLP website or email Sheila King.

Supporting Young Fathers - Spotlight on Promising Practice

Young People in Focus

Date: 3 November 2010

Location: Birmingham

The value of fathers to children’s wellbeing is increasingly documented, but around 40% of young fathers have little or no contact with their children after one year. Support services have tended to focus exclusively on mothers, but in recent years young fathers have been coming out of the shadows. This workshop will feature input from two leading projects in this field with plenty of opportunity to share ideas, consider what works and what to avoid, and to problem-solve.

Training for course leaders - Adolescence as a 'Second Chance' for teenage parents

18-19 March 2011
1-2 April 2011 

Four day training course for course leaders. A roll-out multi-disciplinary course on the emotional needs of pregnant teens and very young parents and their child.

This training will enable you to deliver a course comprised of five half study days, to be run fortnightly in your own location. It brings together the different practitioners working with this high-risk client group, to enhance their understanding of the needs, risks and double demands of adolescence and parenthood. The course comprises interactive workshops, skill-based seminars, work discussion groups and self-study units.

You can become a Course Leader if:

• You are working in a professional context with adolescent parents and/or their babies
• You are familiar with psychodynamic principles and mental health issues (knowledge of attachment theory, child development, group theory, intercultural and/or social theory are helpful).
• You have the leadership qualities, enthusiasm and organisational skills to deliver the Course in your own locality

Young Fathers Initiative

Working with Men

Working with Men offers training for those developing and those managing work with boys, men and fathers. The training is also relevant to those involved in policy development.

Recent training days and workshops have included the following areas: targeting and engaging boys and young men; masculinity; what works with fathers; fathers’ involvement in Children’s Centres and self esteem.

They have standard one-day and two-day courses which can be adapted, and  they can develop tailored programmes, depending on the needs and requirements of the agencies and professionals involved.

Working with Men also developed the Expectant Fathers Programme and has a range of resources for practitioners to download on their Young Fathers website.