Good Idea: Support for vulnerable young parents in a homely setting

Provider Hatters Children’s Centre, Luton Borough Council
Name Project No.27

Vulnerable young parents can easily find themselves in difficulties without the right support. But accessing that support can be daunting, particularly for those unfamiliar with local authority services. In Luton, the council is hoping to reach out to this group through a project where parents aged up to 25 can receive help and training in a bedsit converted to look like a welcoming living room.

Project No.27 is currently running a three-week course on weaning. Sessions last two hours and are held weekly, but the centre also plans to offer one-to-one support to families, and is developing a course covering self-esteem, communication and anger management in relation to pregnancy and birth.

Participants are referred to the project by other agencies, such as health visitors or midwives. In the future, the scheme will also accept self-referrals.

Sarah Lawlor, Hatters Children’s Centre hub manager, says the setting breaks down barriers for local parents who would have reservations about entering support services. “The home setting intends to bridge a gap. A lot of families want to walk through our doors but we need to be reaching out to families that might find it difficult,” Lawlor says.

Charlotte Koutsou, an 18-year-old service user, says the project is helping her and her four-month-old son to develop confidence. “I really enjoy the homely environment of No.27. Working in small groups enables me to make friends and confidentially ask questions,” she says. “I am now able to enjoy being a parent.”