19/01/04 - Social Services success with Parent Mentors - Imagine that!

A new Social Services Initiative in Barrow called `Imagine’ is helping parents who are struggling with teenagers by providing a parent mentoring service.  The service focuses on support and advice to parents ensuring they move away from a problem based approach to a problem-soling approach focusing on the strengths within the relationship with their teenage children.

The scheme began in 2001 as a partnership between Cumbria Social Services Adolescent Resource Team and parents using its services.  The initiative in 2001 took the form of a support group called SWAT (Struggling with a teenager) The group was so successful that a bid for funding to plan and develop this service was made to the Children’s Fund.  The successful bid led to three mums from SWAT being employed by the Children’s Fund to carry out a mentoring service for parents asking for help in coping with their teenagers.  The new service is called `Imagine’.

County Councillor John Mallinson, Cabinet Spokesman for Care and Social Services says

“I am delighted at the success of this new innovative scheme to help sort problems within families, reducing the need for young people to come into care.  The `Imagine’ team is Jackie Mcauley, Helen Newton and Maria Dixon.  Demand for the service is high and the trio have mentored over 20 families with 55 children between them, mainly on issues of boundaries and behaviour.  They have helped families to deal with their problems and settle conflicts ensuring that matters that can be resolved don’t become crises that can’t.  Cumbria County Council is committed to prevention services and community support to ensure less young people leave their families to come into care.

Donna Ayres is a mum who has had support through the mentoring service and found it invaluable.  Donna says,

“Me and my husband were having real problems and a difficult time dealing with our son’s behaviour.  The mentors helped us to look at things differently and see different ways to identify and resolve problems.  With their help and support we were able to deal with many of the problems and feel able to tackle other issues as they arose in a constructive way.”

Anyone who would like to contact `Imagine’ to find out more can contact Jackie Macauley, Helen Newton or Maria Dixon on (012290 894803.