Projects
These are the projects we are currently working on in the UK and Europe.
Strengthening Families Strengthening Communities In partnership with the Race Equality Foundation and Cornwall Neighbourhoods for Change, SPAN runs this community based parenting programme in Bristol, BANES, Somerset and Cornwall. Facilitators are trained to deliver the programme in their local area. The SFSC approach emphasises that parenting is affected by the local environment and that parents can play an active role in shaping this environment through community involvement.A list of current courses can be found HERE
www.onespace.org.uk One Space is the parenting site for single parents. It offers an online community for single parents with support from experienced parenting facilitators and brings together essential information, interactive learning games, multi-media content, links to other support organisations and news. The online groups also act as a virtual support group, where people can gain advice and support from others who have been through similar experiences - a lifeline to many who unexpectedly find themselves to be single parents.
Empowering Family Self Help Groups
SPAN's Empowering Family Self Help Groups project was funded from 2008 - 2011 by Capacity Builders under the ‘Improving Reach' programme and delivered in partnership with the Family Education Development Trust (FEDT) based in Devon. The aim of the project was to support family self-help groups across the South West with the relevant training to help them to build their capacity to deliver quality services and keep running in the longer term. The project was very successful in exceeding its targets and provided training support to over 90 groups and 340 volunteers from a range of diverse family self-help groups including: parent forums / networks, Friends of Sure Start, parents of autistic children, dads, parents of children with Asperger's & ADHD, Home-Start, parent & toddler groups, families of people in prison and a grandparents group. SPAN's popular training course Grow your Group, an eight week course on how to run a family support group, was rolled out to groups across the region as part of the programme.
If you are looking to develop your family support group you can also benefit from the Grow your Group training! A free online version can be accessed at www.onespace.org.uk/elearning/courses
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Participatory research SPAN is currently undertaking a three-year longitudinal participatory research project exploring the lived experiences of single parents who are moved from Income Support to Job Seekers Allowance, entitled ‘Single Parent Advancement and Learning Opportunities-Participatory Research'. The research is carried out in collaboration with the School of Health and Social Care, University of West of England, and funded by the Big Lottery Fund.For further information on this project, please look at the research summary in the Policy and Research section.
SPAN Study Centre in Bristol Set up as a model of good practice, the Study Centre offers courses, personal development, money advice, volunteering, childcare and other support services to one parent families in Bristol. Futher details of courses can be obtained from the Study Centre web page.
Money Advice In conjunction with Bristol Citizens Advice Bureau, the Money Advice Caseworker provides free, impartial and confidential advice to parents experiencing a wide range of financial difficulty. An appointment with the adviser can be made by calling 01179 462 566