Every parent matters in Rochdale

Parents from across Rochdale will come together at Touchstones Art Gallery in Rochdale on Wednesday 14 May to celebrate their achievements and the launch of a parenting strategy for Rochdale families in Rochdale, Heywood and Middleton.

Parents from various groups including Shelter, Young Parents from Kirkholt, Jigsaw Parent Support, Great Howarth Family Accommodation, Deeplish Children’s Centre, Wardle High School, Home-Start and Woodlands Children Centre will unveil artwork at Touchstones that reflects the ups and downs of life as parents. 

Some of the artwork on show will be displayed in Touchstones Café until Sunday 15 June.

There will also be children’s activities and refreshments on the day to add to the celebration atmosphere.

The Parenting Strategy has been produced to look at what support, information and advice there is for parents across Rochdale, Middleton and Heywood. The aim is to encourage parents to hone their positive parenting skills.

Organiser and Parenting Strategy Officer Wendy Bond said: "We know that family life and parenting isn’t always easy and you don’t get a handbook telling you what to do. All parents have times when they’re not sure what to do - whether you’ve got a crying baby or a moody teenager - and there are times when a parent’s own problems may be getting on top of them. We want parents to feel it’s ok to ask for help if they need it and no one should feel as if they have to cope alone. There is support, advice and information available for parents and positive parenting is for the good times as well as the rough rides.

"If you feel you want to talk to someone or need some advice or information, you can speak to your Health Visitor, School Nurse or someone else in school, call into your local Children’s Centre (for under 5s), contact your GP or someone you trust in your local community."