Families First

Families First has worked over a number of years, helping parents develop their own parenting skills and couples enriching their relationship. Using materials produced by the Family Caring Trust, we facilitate parenting programmes for families with children aged 0-6 yrs, 6-12 yrs and teenagers. The Couple Alive course is for couples of all ages - for newly formed relationships or people who have been together for over forty years. Groups are generally held in a relaxed home setting and have been known to involve chocolate cake!

Families First is supported by a number of churches in Crawley and works with professional agencies in West Sussex to host, co-facilitate and support parenting groups throughout the area.

A recent Families First conference had Michael Quinn, founder and executive director of Family Caring Trust as keynote speaker. Seminars and workshops served all the topic areas and were attended by about 100 people from Surrey, East and West Sussex.

These are some of the comments from parents who have completed a programme:

• “There is less tension in the house, things get done more easily, leaves more time for play and talking”
• “I am more patient and calmer, leading to less friction”
• “I feel more confident and less negative about my parenting abilities”
• “Conflict dealt with quicker and more effectively so life is much happier for everyone”
• “I have a better understanding of my children”
  

And from our Couple Alive programme the feedback was equally positive:

• “A marriage changing experience. 1st anniversary to 50th anniversary; something new."
• “I thought I knew everything about him, having been married for so long, but this course has really opened my eyes.”
• “We have talked about subjects we have never touched on before and I am amazed at what I have learnt.”
• “It brings you much closer to each other when you understand how each other think and how that affects your lives together.”
• “Instead of stewing over an argument for days or weeks, the course has taught us how to deal with it promptly and well so that we can move on lovingly again.”
• “An encouraging way of helping couples in their relationship and enabling them to have a deeper understanding of each other.”
• “I would thoroughly recommend a Couple Alive course. It was a time well spent and helped us to communicate without it being threatening or intimidating.”
• “The course helps to give the opportunity to get in touch with your true feelings and to open these up for discussion with your spouse / partner.”
• “I’ve always been a ‘door slammer’ type of argumentative person – if I had done this course years ago our door frames would be in better condition!
• “I wish this course had been available when we were first married!”

For information on the programmes currently being offered please contact us

Here are some useful links with ideas and resources for parents and other organisations who are committed to helping parents

• The Book Trust orovides free booklists
• Storyplus has tips on helping your child learn to read, lists of books and free books online
• Big Idea produces the VeggieTales christian DVDs for children
• Counton has lots of ideas and maths games to play
• Learn is full of educational tips
• The National Trust brings the science behind history to life with information and games
• The National Drugs helpline is an independent government funded web site
• The NSPCC Child Protection Helpline
• It's not your fault offers support and information to children whose parents are divorcing or separating
• Tigerchild has information about parental rights and health advice
• Wired for Health gives government health information
• The National Childrens' Bureau offers a sex education forum
• Practical Parenting avice
• Parentline Plus is a national charity that works for, and with, parents
• Gingerbread and One Parent Families have now merged to provide better support for lone parent families
• Wellspring West Sussex is for children and young people with disabilities and special needs,
  and their parents and carers
• Sure Start is a Government programme, for national and local childcare information look at the their ChildcareLink
• Daycare Trust is a national childcare charity, campaigning for quality, accessible, affordable childcare for all
• Childnet International, a non-profit organisation working with others to “help make the Internet a great and safe place for children
• Child’s Eye Media specialises in making documentaries for young children