Our Strengthening Families, Strengthening Communities (SFSC) joint licence offers commissioners the flexibility to offer parents both our online parenting programme and Stronger Relationships strand, reaching families with a more holistic and accessible approach.
In this blog, a commissioner from Waltham Forest, shares why they chose the joint licence, what made the SFSC offer stand out, and how the process has supported frontline teams and local families.
Why did you decide to fund a joint licence for SFSC parenting and Stronger Relationships? Can you explain what the most attractive features were?
We decided to fund a joint licence for SFSC Parenting and Stronger Relationships because we wanted to offer something high quality, flexible, and inclusive for families in Waltham Forest.
What really stood out to us was the standard of the Race Equality Foundation’s courses—they’re fantastic. The content is thoughtful, culturally responsive, and feels relevant to the diverse communities we work with. It’s clear that a lot of care has gone into making the programmes inclusive and impactful.
We also loved that the courses are online and run regularly, with sessions available at different times of day, which makes them much more accessible for parents who might be working, have young children at home, or other commitments.
Another big plus is that the programmes are split into age groups, so families can get support that really fits their situation—whether that’s parenting younger children or teenagers.
All in all, it felt like a really strong, all-round offer that could meet a wide range of needs.
How have you found the process so far?
I’ve found the process really smooth so far. The flyers and information sheets are clear and professional, and the step-by-step guidance for parents to sign themselves up has made a huge difference—it’s really cut down our admin time, which is always appreciated!
Eleni has been incredible—she’s been available to support us every step of the way and is always so responsive. That’s made it really easy for us to adapt and tweak how we recruit parents as we go. It’s felt like a really supportive and collaborative process, which makes all the difference when you’re trying to get something off the ground.
If you are happy with the service, what do you think are the most important features for you as commissioners, for frontline practitioners and then for parents?
We are very happy with the service so far. From a commissioning point of view, some of the most important features have been the ease with which parents can sign themselves up, the clear and well-designed promotional materials, and the strong reputation of the Race Equality Foundation—we know we’re offering something high quality and trusted.
For frontline practitioners, having courses that are readily available and run regularly makes it so much easier to refer families without long waits or complicated processes. Plus, the ongoing support with recruitment has been really helpful—it’s taken a lot of pressure off teams who are already stretched.
And for parents, the simple sign-up process, flexibility in session times, and the fact that it’s an online offer they can fit around their lives is key. Having someone like Eleni, who’s so responsive and supportive, has really helped make the whole process feel joined-up and easy—for both staff and families.
Learn more about the SFSC joint license
Celebrating 25 years of SFSC
Join us as we mark a major milestone, celebrating 25 years of Strengthening Families, Strengthening Communities. Expect inspiring keynote speakers and insightful panel discussions, the launch of new research, and interactive workshops focused on inclusive family support and innovative practice.
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