Parent Champion ProjectAdele Scotton/Jackie Edwards

Main aims of the programme

• Help parents to understand the benefits of quality childcare .

• Encourage parents to participate in early learning activities with their children.

• Help parents to find out about and take up formal childcare places for their children.

• Understand the 2 year offer.

Why we took up the scheme

• To increase awareness and uptake of childcare and other childcare/education services in deprived areas.

• Targeted approach for engaging families in the highest areas of deprivation in Liverpool .

• High proportion of families within these areas with more than 3 children per household.

• Excellent experience for participants.

Progress so far

• We have increased the parent champion project across Liverpool to encourage parents to use the 2 year old offer

• We have 24 Parent Champions across Liverpool in the most deprived areas

• Parent Champions: home visit, work from lists the children centers provide and hold events.

• High levels of confidence through the existing Volunteers into Placement (VIP) project has helped the Parent Champions to hit the ground running.

• Building up the local knowledge of the areas has enabled the Parent Champions to engage with the community confidently.

• Information about the locality was supplied to the team by the Children Centre Managers.

Valuing volunteers!• All volunteers are a valuable asset to

our already stretched services.• Commitment is the key• Regular KIT meetings• Ongoing training• Opportunities to progress and

develop

•Success so far:• This programme has demonstrated how effective

parents are at spreading the word amongst other parents.

• Parents Champions have built up their confidence within themselves to have effective outcomes for them and their children.

• Job opportunities – Volunteers have a strong work ethic and are more confident to gain employment.

Liverpool Parent Champions