Further chance to join highly successful online event for parents
Parents of teenage children will now have a second chance to attend a trailblazing series of webinars piloted earlier this year.
The ‘Let’s Talk Teenagers’ webinars were set up to help parents and carers understand and support their teenagers to navigate the challenges of today’s world.
The first sessions were sold out and with demand so high a second series has now been planned to run next month (Wednesdays June 15, 22 and 29).
The ‘Let’s Talk Teenagers’ webinars were designed by the South Devon and Dartmoor Community Safety Partnership and rolled out across Devon in partnership with other local organisations that work together to keep children and young people safe, support parents and reduce crime and antisocial behaviour.
Places for the courses were initially limited to 200, but a staggering 749 parents and carers attended one or more of the sessions in total, and the feedback received was highly positive.
Rebecca Hewitt, Teignbridge Council’s Safeguarding Lead and Chair of the South Devon and Dartmoor Community Safety Partnership said: “We were overwhelmed by the feedback from parents who said they felt more equipped to support their teens following this event. We are pleased to be able to offer the sessions again to reach even more families to raise awareness of the risks young people face and tips on how to support them.”
The sessions, which cover topics such as teenage development and social and emotional changes, body image, relationships, social media and emotional wellbeing and self-care, are delivered by parenting experts Emma Stephens and Chloe Hosegrove from the Safety and Resilience Consultancy.
Emma said: “This course will help parents understand the kind of issues that their teenager may be experiencing, from things like anxiety, peer pressure or body image to drugs, alcohol, and sex. It helps parents to identify the signs that their teenager may be experiencing issues, but also provides lots of helpful tips and advice about how to have open conversations or broach particular issues.
“The course is aimed at anyone who wants to better understand their teenager and the world they are growing up in, and how they can support them to navigate the challenges they might experience. Parents can get involved and ask questions, or just sit with a cuppa and listen in – and you can sign up for all three sessions, or just one! It really is up to you how you want to use the sessions.”
Feedback from parents and carers who attended the previous webinars included: “Thank you so much for these great sessions and for all the encouragement, sometimes it's so easy to blame ourselves as parents and feel like we are not doing enough for our children and feeling supported is so important.”
“I wasn’t sure what to expect, as sometimes online events can be difficult to follow and not always relevant to questions I have. This one was really punchy and interesting. I was able to impress my son with things I knew better than him and we were able to compare notes! I will recommend the new one you are doing to my friends.”
“These sessions have been so helpful. Thank you for all the information and support.”
The project has been funded by the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, The Safer Devon Partnership, South Devon and Dartmoor Community Safety Partnership and Teignbridge Council for voluntary Service and supported by Devon County Council and Teignbridge Council.
The 90-minute sessions will be delivered on Teams, and a free booklet will accompany the online event, which will be sent out to delegates afterwards. Find out more or sign up for the webinar.
