Strengthening Families, Strengthening Communities

SFSC is for all parents and carers, but if you are in one of these groups, our 13-week in-person course may suit you better:

• Parents and carers with limited English literacy
• Parents and carers with some learning difficulties

There is a course for each of three age groups: children aged 0 to 6, 7 to 11 and 12 to 18.

For the second part of the course, you will be joined by a small group of parents for a group discussion via Zoom. Led by one of our facilitators, your group will consist of up to 12 parents who are at the same stage of the course as you.

Your facilitator will ensure that everyone abides by the set of pre-agreed rules and will support you to contribute as much or as little as you feel comfortable with. You will also be able to contact your facilitator privately if you would like to disclose something you do not feel comfortable sharing in front of the group.

Please select the age group of the child you are the most interested in receiving information about; you will receive a digital manual which provides information on all the developmental stages. You will also receive support from your group facilitator, who will be able to answer any specific questions you may have.

Whilst the self-study element of our online course is written in plain English, you may find our 13-week in-person course easier to take part in.

Whilst the self-study element of our online course is written in plain English, where possible we do deliver the group discussion in other languages, but the languages we can offer are limited.

We are looking to offer more languages. Please contact us if there is a particular language you would like the session to be available in.

The course lasts six weeks.

Sign up! You will need a computer, laptop, tablet or smartphone with a working microphone and camera for the group discussions, and access to the internet.

The course is made up of:

• Six online modules that you work through in your own time
• Six online group discussions with one of our facilitators, on the same day and at the same time each week

The modules are made up of videos, games and quizzes, with no writing needed. You can open a module at any time and finish it in one sitting or several; each takes around 40 minutes.

The group discussions are on Zoom, led by one of our facilitators. They take place once a week and last an hour.

SFSC will help you to consider these important parenting questions:

• How can I motivate my child to complete important tasks?
• How do I build a better relationship with my child?
• How do I understand the developmental stages of children?
• How do I put boundaries in place with my child?
• What other services are available in my community that can help?

The programme will provide:

• A safe space to share your views and be listened to
• An opportunity to get information and ideas to help with decisions about bringing up your children
• New skills, and support in developing your confidence and
  connections with the wider communities and services in your area.

The full SFSC course is delivered in person over 13 weeks, in a group; this programme is accredited by the Open College Network. This means you can gain credits for taking part in the programme, which you can use for job applications or if you want to return to education. This programme consists of three-hour in-person weekly sessions, and because of the length has more content than the online course. Groups have 8 to 12 parents and carers, run by two facilitators, with activities to do at home between sessions, and many groups provide refreshments, childcare and transport free of charge.

Our six-week programme is entirely online and consists of one-hour weekly group sessions and self-studies. If you would like an introduction to parenting strategies, have previously attended the in-person 13-week programme and would like a refresher or if you struggle to attend face-to-face sessions, the online programme is for you.

Yes. You can register for more than one course, for example for a second age group, or for Stronger Relationships as well as Strengthening Families. Each course has its own group. If two of your groups would meet at the same time, we tell you when you choose.

Yes. Groups keep meeting through the school holidays, so your six weeks run without a break.

If most of the parents in a group would rather not meet in a holiday week, the group can agree to postpone that session. Your facilitator talks it through with the group, and we let everyone know the new date.

The online course is free where your local council pays for it. Otherwise it costs the price shown on this page. When you register, your postcode tells you which before you pay anything.

It depends on your local council: many pay for the online courses for families who live in their area. Check your postcode to see straight away, without registering.

If your council does not pay, the course costs the price shown on the course page.

The online courses work from anywhere. You need a phone, tablet or computer with a camera and microphone, and an internet connection; the group meets on Zoom.

The 13-week SFSC course also runs in person in some areas. To find out whether there is one near you, ask us using the form on this page.

Each parent registers themselves, with their own email address. Send them to the course page: the postcode they enter at the start tells them straight away whether the course is free where they live.

If a parent needs help registering, they or you can ask us using the form on this page.

The Race Equality Foundation trains SFSC facilitators and licenses organisations to run the programme. Visit the Race Equality Foundation’s SFSC pages to find out more.