Islington parents graduate from innovative parenting programme

Published by Neil Young for Peabody in Communities and also in Health, Housing

A group of parents in Islington have graduated from Strengthening Families, Strengthening Communities, a free 13-week course offered by Peabody in partnership with Islington Council to support good parenting and the community.

Weekly sessions for the course, which was developed by the Race Equality Foundation, were held at Peabody’s Hugh Cubitt community centre on its Priory Green estate in Barnbury, Islington.

Strengthening Families, Strengthening Communities is designed to increase parents’ confidence and skills, helping to achieve positive change in family relationships. Participants share knowledge and experience as parents, and learn practical, useful parenting skills around issues such as gangs, community and domestic violence, depression, drugs and alcohol.  

Michelle Francis, Peabody Community Safety Team Leader, said:

“We think it’s important for housing associations to offer more than just good homes. Working with local partners including Islington Council, our aim is to support positive, healthy communities. Offering this course to our residents and people in the wider community is one way for us to do that. We’re really proud of all the parents who took part in Strengthening Families, Strengthening Communities.”  

Councillor Richard Watts, Islington Council's executive member for children and families, said:

"Islington Council funds a range of parenting and family support programmes. It is not easy bringing up a family in inner London and recent events show us how important it is that we continue to prioritise helping families to get it right. By working with organisations like Peabody, we can strengthen families and communities and really make a positive difference to the lives of families and children in Islington."

Leandra Box, Race Equality Foundation Programme Manager, said:

“Race Equality Foundation commends Peabody in delivering the Strengthening Families, Strengthening Communities programme to parents in Islington. In offering communities opportunities to support their families; improve the environments they inhabit; and impact positively on the lives of children and young people, SFSC is ideally placed to support the wider work of housing associations.  We hope that Peabody will build on the success of this work and offer SFSC to residents in other locations.”