Call for parenting champion role

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The parenting champion idea is among a series of proposals put forward by the committee

A national parenting champion should be appointed in Wales, a report has suggested.

The recommendation was made by a the Welsh assembly committee after a 13-month inquiry into the needs of parents and children.

Children and young people committee chair Helen Mary Jones said it would help ensure the best start in life.

But the Children in Wales charity said it was "not convinced" a parenting champion was the answer.

The report to the assembly government recommended that the role have responsibility for ensuring all parents in Wales have access to the information and services they require.

Ms Jones said: "We believe the Welsh government needs to appoint a senior figure who wouldn't be a civil servant or a government minister, but who would work with the government to co-ordinate parenting support.

Do we need a parents' champion?

It seems that all these government ideas set out to help struggling parents just add to the current culture that they can have their children and leave everyone else, such as teachers, or social services to bring up their kids. All a child needs is love, and structure to their lives, and discipline if its required. Not that difficult really is it?

Jo, Swansea

"We think they should be called the 'parenting champion' and be responsible for providing leadership, better co-ordination of work across government departments, eradicating stigma associated with parenting support, and developing a recognised national parenting brand for all activities undertaken to support parents.

"The impact of parenting on a child is profound and lasts for lifetimes, affecting the contribution a child makes to their society. Yet so often the value of parenting is overlooked in our culture, and only gets attention when something goes wrong.

"We urge the Welsh government to take the recommendations contained in this report seriously for the sake of our children who will, in turn, become parents themselves one day."

Ms Jones added that while there was a lot of good work being done to support parents, there was also a lot of confusion about parenting support, with government departments not speaking to each other effectively, and a lack of strategic leadership.

She said: "There is also a cultural perception that parenting support is something to be embarrassed about, as if it's only for 'failed parents'.

"Many of the parents who spoke to the inquiry had said they felt embarrassed or afraid when asking for parenting support, when they should have been applauded for trying to provide the best parenting possible for their children. "

Suzie Hayman, a parenting educator and trustee of Parentline Plus, said she hoped the new role would take the "stigma" off parenting courses.

"Parenting is a really difficult job, and it's sign of strength to ask for help and not a sign of weakness," she added.

'Told off'

"Parenting courses are a wonderful opportunity for parents to get together and talk and to be able to say 'this is what I find difficult, have you got any tips?' and to find out that other parents had the same difficulties, which means you don't feel so bad about it, but also, together, you can often come up with some good ideas.

"It's not about being told off, it's not about being made to feel bad. That's one of the things we need someone to be saying quite loudly."

However, Catriona Williams, chief executive of the children's umbrella group Children in Wales, said: "We are not convinced that a champion, other than a lead person in government, is the answer.

"Children in Wales recommended a strong lead within government to ensure proper implementation of the parenting action plan and development of support services for parents such as a helpline for all parents."

The committee's report contains 11 recommendations to the assembly government, and was based on evidence taken during four formal committee meetings, informal meetings with more than 40 parents in Cardiff and Flintshire, and written evidence from over 30 organisations.

Committee members are joining parents at the Ely and Caerau Children's Centre to launch the report.