Politicians have long acknowledged the need to restore family values, but struggled over how to implement a plan of action. However, an innovative programme in Liverpool could provide an answer to the problem.
Fast (Families and Schools Together), comes with glowing reports from the US, where it has been running for 20 years.
For the past six months, Elspeth Bromiley, family therapist for children and adults at Liverpool City Council, has introduced the programme into schools across Liverpool - the first time the initiative has been properly tested in the UK.
One evening a week for 10 weeks, groups of families meet to get to know each other and strengthen their own bonds.
Universal service
The scheme has been taken up by parents on a first-come first-serve basis. "I liked that it wasn't targeted because I think families get fed up being told what is right and wrong," says Bromiley. Families do a range of activities such as cooking or singing.
Some even greet each other with a special "hello". Bromiley acts out the "wave", which arcs like a rainbow from her left to her right. "It connects the two sides of the brain," she explains. "The whole programme is about connecting everything. We're defined by our connections - in relationships, at work, in families."
Each evening finishes with a game and a "rain" dance - a series of movements depicting a thunderstorm evolving into sunlight.
"If you are stressed, your body creates cortisol. A way of countering that is to increase serotonin levels; by talking, laughing, singing, exercising, sunlight or touch," says Bromiley. But this sounds like a happy-clappy, all-American concept that just won't wash in England, doesn't it?
Difficult conversations
"It could be perceived as happy-clappy, but everything is based on research and there's some difficult conversations going on," she says.
Those conversations are the crux of the programme, as every week parents get to talk to other parents. In turn, children get a chance to talk with a parent, and get to choose what they discuss.
"That is the most important time of the programme because that is when the parent and child really connect," explains Bromiley.
The programme is not just about encouraging families to talk but empowering parents and breeding respect. Experts are also brought in to offer parents advice on issues such as drugs, crime and mental health.
Encouraging signs
Statistics on the programme's success rate are due to be released in September, but anecdotal evidence is encouraging. Schools are reporting an increase in the attendance, attainment and social skills of pupils involved. Families claim there has been an increase in communication, better behaviour patterns and a drop in stress levels at home. The programme also has a 95 per cent retention rate of families, higher than any of its US counterparts.
It is staffed by a team of school staff, older pupils, parents of children not involved in the programme, community members, mental health workers and youth workers.
Bromiley stresses the importance of representing the community in her teams. "If you've got an 80 per cent Muslim community, you need that represented in the team - parents won't come in if they think they are just walking into a room full of professionals," she says.
Best place to connect
Bromiley adds that the programme is not about sending parents back to school. She says school is simply the best place to connect everyone: teachers, parents and children.
After the programme finishes, parents form local networks and continue to meet once a month. These networks set up their own activities and projects with the help of the school and supporting agencies. Recent groups have attended a first-aid course together, while one group is starting up its own allotment.
As the programme begins to gain national recognition, Bromiley is positive about the future: "Hopefully what we're doing is building connections, support systems, friendships and creating a structure in which it is fun to do this."
BACKGROUND FAST (FAMILIES AND SCHOOLS TOGETHER)
- Fast (Families and Schools Together), originated in the US in 1989 where 40 per cent of parents have gone on to further education as a result of taking part
- It was untested on UK shores before being rolled out in Liverpool, with the exception of a brief pilot in one school in Milton Keynes last year
- Liverpool City Council was given £260,000 by the National Academy for Parenting Practitioners to fund Fast. It currently runs in three primary and eight secondary schools, but is due to expand in September
- To date, nine other local authorities have expressed interest in the programme
