Smart Parents celebrate in Caw and Nelson Drive

These award are offered to applicants who demonstrate a commitment to fostering social enterprise through collaborative partnership between schools, colleges and individuals or groups in a Housing Executive estate.

For the purpose of this award social enterprise is considered to be an innovative activity that aims to tackle social or environmental issues within the community. The award will recognise applicants who have identified and explored existing and new opportunities for lifelong learning, social responsibility, employability and community regeneration through active partnership within local communities.

Winners under the award scheme are the members of the Smart Parents Programme, spearheaded by community co-odrinator, Linda Watson.

"Our Smart Parents programme came about when we realised that the Caw/Nelson Drive area was not included the Sure Start remit for the first 3 years of them setting up in the Waterside. Around the same time we had just completed Health Promoting Homes programme and it became clear that there was a definite need for 'parenting skills' projects in the area," she said.

"Over the past two years we have secured funding from Oakgrove Integrated Primary School's Extended School's budget to run four 10-week courses. During discussions with the school we explained the benefits to them of this type of course and how if parents are skilled up and home life is less stressful for them that this will have a knock-on effect on the children.

"A typical 10-week course would include topics such as behaviour, stress management, building relationships, children's play, confidence building,personal care and budgeting," she said.

Such has been the success of the scheme, that five of the participants have moved on to do other things, according to Linda. Two have become trained 'Cook It' tutors, one has become a volunteer youth leader, while two have been trained up by a local health visitor and have become 'Community Mothers'.

"They are now going out visiting new parents in the local area, supporting them through leaflets, information and sign posting them if they need help in a specific area," said Linda.