positive futures parenting support

Do you want to improve your relationship with your Child(ren)?

sign up now for our free online parenting support course

Our FREE Positive Futures Parenting Support Course is aimed at York residents who are parents/carers of children between the ages of 4 and 16.

We know that parenting children can be tough. But we also know it can be one of the most rewarding things you will ever do. Our course gives you the tools and confidence to build strong and positive relationships with your children.

Our course will enable you to meet other parents and carers, and share ideas and experiences in an inclusive and non-judgemental environment. You will also learn practical skills to help you develop your strengths (because everyone has them)!

You will be supported to put an action plan together to include any changes to your parenting that you would like to make. The course is based on the latest evidence and research; you will receive an easy to use handbook, plus lots of help and support from our friendly, experienced tutors.

Sign up for our in-person course starting 28th January 2025 at 9.30am

This course will run in person at In-person at Hob Moor Children’s Centre. It will run from 9.30-11.30 am for 7 weeks.

*Parking for in-person sessions is on a first come first serve basis. Please note that unfortunately, children are not permitted to attend these sessions.

Parenting Self Referrals Form

Name

First Name

Last Name

Phone

(###)

###

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If you are a professional referring someone to the course please please provide your name organisation and contact details. If not please leave blank.

Parent/carer gender

What is the address of the parent/carer?

Address 1

Address 2

City

State/Province

Zip/Postal Code

Country

Parent/carer ethnicity

Family's first language

Family details

Please provide the name, date of birth and current school of your child/children

Why does the parent/carer want to attend this parenting support programme?

What does the parent/carer hope to achieve from this programme?:

Other needs and/or requirements:

Do they have children who are eligible for two year old funding? :

Are their children eligible for free school meals? (For School Year 3 onwards):

Are they on a Child Protection Plan? :

Are they responsible for Looked After Children?

Do they have a Family Early Help Assessment or have one under development?

Where did you find out about the course?

I confirm that the information contained in this form is accurate and wish to submit a referral for a place on this course.

Yes

The applicant consents to the information requested on this form may be shared within City of York Council and those agencies delivering services in partnership with the Council.

Yes

Should you be offered a place on this course, we will use your email address to invite you to the course on TrainerCentral and to contact you about the course through Brightsparks CIC. By selecting 'Yes,' you consent to the use of your email address for these purposes.

Yes

Can’t make the January course? We will be running further courses at the below dates and times:

Course 6 - Starting 6th March 2025 (Online)

Sign up for the waiting list below:

Parenting waiting list 2024

Name

First Name

Last Name

Checkbox

I would like to sign up to be notified of future Positive Futures parenting courses and agree to being contacted by Brightsparks CIC.

Yes

Positive Futures Parenting Support Programme Outline

The course will consist of 7 x 90 minute online sessions over a 7 week period.

The course equips parents and carers with the practical skills and social support networks to help support their children’s social, emotional and educational development.

The key outcomes of the Positive Futures course are:

Improved parent/carer self-confidence;
Greater ability to set routines and boundaries;
Greater understanding of a child’s emotional and development needs at different ages;
Improved self-awareness/emotional intelligence;
Reduce care-giver stress;
Improved relationships.

The course has two main aims:

To improve relationships and communication between children and their families; and
To improve children’s behaviour at home, at school and in the wider community.

To this end, the objectives of the course are to provide parents/carers with skills and strategies to:

Nurture their children by encouraging them and listening to them;
Provide appropriate structure and boundaries for their children; and
Take care of themselves so that they have more energy for their job of parenting, have less stress and can successfully model self-care to their children.

Children feel better when they are understood, when they have parents/carers who are able to set authoritative boundaries, and when their parents/carers value themselves.

The course is supported by a comprehensive, high quality resource pack, so each session is interesting and engaging. Practical resources are underpinned by accessible background theory and we steer clear of PowerPoint in favour of group discussions.

Trigger Warning

Before you register for the course, please be aware that this course covers sensitive topics, including trauma, attachment, and emotional well-being. Some parents may find these discussions emotive or challenging, as they touch on personal experiences and parenting struggles.

Please note:

There is no requirement to share any personal information during the course.
You are encouraged to engage in a way that feels comfortable for you. If at any point you find a topic difficult or feel it’s not something you wish to discuss, you have the right to pass and not share.

Your emotional well-being is important to us, and you are welcome to participate at your own pace. If you would like to speak to a course tutor in advance to find out more about the topics, please email enquiries@brightsparkscic.org.uk

Course Tutors

The sessions will be run by our experienced and skilled facilitators:

Katie Simpson, Director of Learning and Development, BrightSparks CIC

Christine Shipley, Learning and Development Associate, BrightSparks CIC

Course overview

Week 1: Building Relationships
Week 2: Stages of Child Development
Week 3: Styles of Parenting
Week 4: Trauma and Attachment
Week 5: Managing Challenging Behaviour
Week 6: Developing Social and Emotional Resilience/Intelligence
Week 7: Reflection and Next Steps

Parents/carers are awarded a certificate on completion.

What do participants need to access the course?

What Do I Need to Access TrainerCentral?
1. Internet: Make sure you have access to the internet.
2. Device: Use a computer, tablet, or phone.
3. Web Browser: Use Chrome, Firefox, Safari, or Edge.
Full access instructions will be shared before the course start date.

Important information

Parents/carers must attend at least 7 sessions to complete the course.
This course is designed for adults only and we highly recommend participating in the course sessions alone, away from your children however we do understand that is not realistic for everyone at this time. Please get in touch if you have any concerns about this.
Please be aware that places on the course are limited and we are prioritising those who have not been on a Brightsparks parenting course in the past.

WHY NOT TRY OUR E-LEARNING COURSES DESIGNED TO HELP YOU DEVELOP AND SUPPORT YOUR CHILD(REN)’S EMOTIONAL RESILIENCE?

Our e-learning courses are FREE to York residents and led by our expert tutors.

If you would like to speak to us about the course then please call 01904 929289, or you can email us at training@brightsparkscic.org.uk.

Check out our Emotional Resilience e-learning Courses.

Learn more

Other support

BrightSparks provides a range of other training courses as well as online resources.

You can also find further support on the York Family Information Service website: http://www.yor-ok.org.uk/families

The BrightSparks Positive Futures Parenting Support course incorporates the Take 3 evidence-based parenting programme. The Take 3 Parenting Programme is a recognised programme that was originally created to support parents of at-risk or vulnerable children/young people, whose challenging behaviour was causing problems for the parents and/or the community.

For more information about the Take 3 Programme, please visit their website: http://www.take3parenting.co.uk