Last November, Darlington was named as one of 77 areas across the country to pilot a new Government scheme using experts to support parents whose families could get involved in anti-social behaviour.
The £4m national project is designed to ensure that parents get the support they may need in putting an end to their children’s poor behaviour.
In Darlington, Kym Cheeseman has taken up the position of Senior Parenting Practitioner, addressing issues affecting parents of children aged from five through to 18.
She is part of a four-strong Parenting Support Service that offers advice and guidance to families throughout Darlington.
Referrals to the service can be made from a variety of sources, including the police, the Council and other agencies.
Kym, who has started the job this month, will ensure that families can quickly be directed to appropriate parenting programmes and receive the right support.
Parents can be supported on a one-to-one or group basis. The aim is to prevent and intervene in anti-social behaviour, as well as reducing risk factors such as poor school attendance and drug misuse.
Kym said: “I’m very passionate about this. Being a parent is a really difficult job and it can be hard to know who to turn to or contact about certain situations.
“We want to let people know that we are here to offer advice, guidance and support. It’s very much about supporting parents until they are ready to move on, without creating dependency.”
The Parenting Support Service can be contacted on (01325) 346861 or 346205.