Parent Action Learning Sets (PALS)

The PALS Project, funded by the Department for Education and Skills, ended in March 2007, was a family learning project set up to help parents gain the skills they need to bring up their children. The project was run in Harehills, Burmantofts and Chapeltown areas of Leeds, some of the most deprived wards of the country.

PALS targeted parents who live in a community characterised by poor housing, low skills, low educational attainment, high unemployment, single parent families and large ethnic minority populations. Small groups of parents met on a weekly basis with a trained facilitator to explore parental issues such as self-esteem, health and nutrition, isolation, behaviour and anger management and cultural issues.

Support Groups

The groups were very much parent-led, with participants assessing where they are now, looking at what skills they have and what they are lacking in order to set and reach personal goals. The facilitator helped the parents to fulfil their goals, providing information about courses available to them and supporting their attendance and learning. In addition to the weekly meeting, the facilitator held workshops and taster sessions in areas identified by the parents.

• Through final evaluation of the project it was proven that the number of parents PALS has reached since the start of the project has exceeded 800.
• 99% of parents stated they have changed: they gained confidence and belief in themselves and their capabilities through PALS, and this has had a positive effect on their children, family, neighbours and friends.
• 98% of parents stated their children's behaviour, aspirations and attainment at school has improved as a direct result of the parents developing themselves through the project.

One parent who attended a Wellbeing session said:
"I never realised that just 5 minutes for myself could make such a difference to the way I feel. I am much more confident now and can speak to the headteacher with my head held high."

Many of the participants are still involved with volunteering or training as a result of PALS. In particular, one volunteer who has previously had very low aspirations and self esteem has now successfully completed a level 2 qualification in IT and is now looking to secure full time employment.