The parents appreciated the initial home visit which helped them to overcome the stress of attending a group were there weren’t any familiar faces. 

In the days leading up to the start of the course we did make contact via text message numerous times, to each parent to ensure that they had support throughout the whole process. 

The first session of the course was  daunting for some parents. One mum arrived very early and this gave an opportunnity  to chat and discuss her fears of coming to a new group. She explained that just stepping out of the front door had become a massive issue and it had taken a lot of courage for her to get to group on this day. 

Between sessions, all parents kept in regular contact with the tutor via text message. Some parents kept in touch with and supported each other. 

As the course progressed, learners discussed the impact which physical activity and a healthy diet can have on our mood. The group took a walk up to the local park and sat on the grass to discuss how it felt to be outside, in an open environment. 

All of the learners have taken positive steps towards managing their depression and achieved the outcomes set at the beginning of the course.  

One of the  mums has started a blog all about honest parenting and the highs and lows she has experienced.

Two parents have now formed a strong friendship after meeting at the group and meet regularly to discuss coping strategies, give each other support and encourage each other to stay positive.

The dad who attended has signed up to a sponsored sky dive to raise funds for a charity close to his heart. He has a fear of flying but he believes that by facing it head on he can overcome it.

One of the learners signed up for a Mindful Taster course to help improve concentration and control of her emotions.

It was evident throughout that each person progressed and that the course made a positive impact and long lasting influence on each learner.

At the end of the course she felt like a different person and said she hadn’t felt like this for 8 years. She felt like she could make her dreams come true and was able to achieve her goals. She said that her teacher Michelle had helped her to find things buried deep inside her and was now able to move on and develop her life. 

“I think it's perfect.  I wish somebody could see through my eyes now and realise how much my life has changed. This course showed me what was holding me back, it makes me stronger and more passionate person. I feel capable of anything of everything now, before I didn’t believe that I can achieve something. I thought that my life after 8 years of being stay in home mum was finished. But, no no no. This course brought out my best self. This was a great opportunity for me. This is a start of something wonderful. Thank u for give us this chance.”
Shugufta
Shugufta joined the class because she wanted to learn ways to help her deal with her anxiety and the negative feelings she experienced. She hoped to discover ways to improve her general wellbeing.  The main barriers she faced was the responsibility of being not only a full time carer for her children but also for wider family members, she did not want to neglect them and her responsibilities to them.

Taking part in the course has boosted Shuguftas confidence and self-esteem, she said “I feel much more positive and have a better outlook on life, this is all down to taking part in this course .  She told us she has even had the courage to apply for a part time job at the school. Shugufta also said “I have met new people who I would not have perhaps even spoken to and have made new friends, it has bought us together as a group. We even have our own WhatsApp group” Shugufta says she now wants to share what she has learnt with others as it has empowered her to try new things.

As well as applying for the job she is also looking at doing some volunteering, and she has signed up to our next volunteer training session. Shugufta said I would tell anyone to do the course and Michelle is such a positive person and this spreads through all the group. It was a pleasure to do the course. 

My barriers have always been based around child care, I do not have the luxury of having a family support network close by. I also have had quite a gap since leaving school and getting back into the education system. 

As a result of joining the project I feel I have gained in confidence, I have met people and made friends. I have gained knowledge from attending the course, in how to improve my own wellbeing and in turn support my children’s wellbeing.  It has encouraged me to sign up to do other courses around parenting and this has helped me talk to my children about delicate and difficult subjects especially where there are and have been traditionally cultural background differences, it has given me the confidence to talk about subjects that my parents did not. 

I have started volunteering in the school and have signed up to do “The learning through play course” with a view to doing the Childcare Level One in September.

As a result of joining the project I feel stronger the little steps it has enabled me to make mean I can see what I have accomplished, it has helped me improve my self-worth, I am so grateful for the course it has helped get me on to the path to where I want to be.

 

Sana T.

Absolutely. We already have a family learning project, and we have identified through the learning well that there are several families, young mums, young dads, young carers that have MH issues, that has made them feel isolated and by bringing them into community learning they have really blossomed with learning new skills, being more confident with their children. Fantastic example, we have just done introductory teaching assistant courses for young mums and they have said things like, you know, it’s given me the confidence to go out it’s given them the confidence to start learning again, so it has been really fantastic on their learning journey, so if we could do more of that it would be amazing.

Be a Better Me is a five week program, which aims to enhance the inner you, by using positive affirmations, creating a vision using crafts and elements of tactful parenting. The program is designed to be positive and stimulating, whilst allowing you to enjoy timeout for yourself outside of your everyday routine. 

• To enable children to grow up to be well rounded adults they need good role models, support and guidance we know this. We want to focus on those individuals who have the biggest influence on our Boroughs children 

• We aim to provide sessions for staff who support the education of our children – Teachers, LSAs, mid-day supervisors –and after school club supervisors 
• Through family learning – we aim to give parents tools and strategies to identify their own coping mechanisms, in doing so thus enabling them to recognise how to support issues faced by their children 
• Luton is one of the most ethnically diverse populations in the country so we intend to continue to work closely with our Asian community Mothers and Grandmothers to build on their extended support network, ensuring the wider family can provide strength and resilience. 

Our future work will include developing opportunities to cascade support throughout the family. For example Working with Dads to show how sport can help reduce stress and anxiety,  providing good strong role models.

In March 2018, mentors and mentees reported to the National Family Learning Forum where they were askedL
“Did the Future Leaders Project make any difference to you and / or your organisation?
If so what were those differences?"

Camden Adult Community Learning Manager