This initiative supports children, young people and families from pregnancy to adulthood. Families and young people can expect a warm welcome in their local community and to be guided to the right support for them.

When it comes to finding out what is going on locally, parents and carers are often the best people to help. This is why we have created Parent Champions. Their experience and local knowledge can help other parents and carers – because they have done it themselves! They can help others get the confidence and support they need at the time they need it.

Parent Champions make a real difference for their local community and there are lots of options how they can do this, depending what suits them, by:

• providing a Warm Welcome in Family Hubs
• helping out with arts and crafts sessions
• raising confidence and self-esteem in parents, this could be by helping a parent/carer to visit a local parent and toddler group
• encouraging parents to access services.
• helping shape York’s family services.

Being parents, they can chat informally and share their own positive experiences of using local services. They meet parents in all sorts of places such as Family Hubs, playgrounds, libraries and playgroups, wherever they feel their strengths are and what they would like to do.

Parent Champions are not expected to know everything but will be able to signpost parents to the most appropriate organisations for further help and more detailed information about childcare and other local services.

The role is flexible and can fit round school times and holidays.

Please do promote this opportunity.

Full training is provided and ongoing support from Family Navigators at City of York Council if you are interested, please contact Alison Cammiss via email: [email protected]  or telephone: 07901813436.