Parenting Across Scotland

Parenting Across Scotland

03/11/2004

Background
Parenting Across Scotland is a multi-agency partnership led by CHILDREN 1st and funded by the Scottish Executive until March 2005. The partner agencies involved in PAS are One Parent Families Scotland, Capability Scotland, Scottish Adoption Association, Couple Counselling Scotland, Family Mediation Scotland, Scottish Marriage Care, Aberlour Childcare Trust and Children in Scotland.
PAS is researching the concerns and issues affecting parents and the support available by bringing together organisations and knowledge to share good practice and represent the views of parents in policy.

Vision
PAS believes that we need to value parenting and caring more and that families deserve the best possible information and support in recognition of the skills required in bringing up children to reach their potential. Children are raised in all sorts of ‘families’ and PAS recognise that it is the activity of parenting that counts rather than a biological relationship. Families are important to children, by supporting families we support children.

Programme of Activities
PAS has spent the last few months gathering information on research relevant to PAS to inform a specially-commissioned MORI poll on family life in Scotland which was launched during National Parenting Week in October. The MORI poll asked a representative sample of the Scottish population about their views on parenting and family life in Scotland. The steering group which is made up of all the partners involved in PAS, developed the questions for the MORI poll and produced a video featuring a range of parents and families talking about family life which was shown at the launch event. There may also be a private members debate in the Scottish Parliament to mark National Parenting Week called by Susan Deacon MSP. Over the next six months, PAS will be scoping the services provided by the partner organisations and identifying case studies which demonstrate best practice in collaborative working. PAS will also be organising three regional events in Scotland which will bring together partners, local authorities and health boards to discuss effective support for families. In March 2005, PAS will present recommendations on how to more effectively support parents and families in Scotland to Ministers.

Staff members from any of the PAS partner organisations who would like more information about PAS or who would like to attend the launch in Edinburgh should contact Alison Clancy.  

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