Category

• Fully Validated Effective Local Practice

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Poverty impact

• Mitigation

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Poverty driver

• Non-driver - improving quality of life

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Keywords

• Young Parents
• Child Poverty
• Educational Attainment
• Teenage Pregnancy
• Pregnancy and Parenthood

Aim

The project's primary aim is to help young parents balance their academic responsibilities with their parenting responsibilities. It further aims to provide opportunities around a wide range of health and social needs for all young parents. This includes supporting the needs of young women in maintaining and/or returning to education pre and post birth.

Summary

The Young Parents’ Support Base (YPSB) supports young parents in attaining the best possible start in life for themselves and their children by helping them balance their academic and parenting responsibilities. The project provides a range of services, including childcare facilities, parenting and personal development classes, as well as peer support services. The programme also offers academic support to young parents, ensuring that they have the resources they need to succeed in education while also caring for their children. It is part of Glasgow City Council's strategic approach to supporting vulnerable young people to remain in education across the city, under its young people's sexual health strategy.

What difference does it make?

For the past 12 years, the project has supported approximately 40 young parents per academic year. It has made a significant impact, helping young parents stay in education while their children receive the necessary care. The programme also offers service users essential healthcare, finance, well-being, and employment services, helping to maintain a stable future for young parents and their children.

Key take-aways

• Free nursery provisions within the YPSB are working best to eliminate young parents’ barriers to education as well as the well-being and effective socialisation of their children.
• The project is based in Smithycroft Secondary School but provides support to all schools in Glasgow. If young women or fathers notify them of their pregnancy and wish to remain in their own school, the service can help them do so.
• The YPSB offer work experience and volunteering opportunities for past service users to take part in the delivery of the project through groupwork, support and research activities. The participation of other young parents allows the YPSB to more accurately identify how to fully support the current service users and provides the young parents with a voice and sense of empowerment.

 

Organisations

Smithycroft Secondary School

Location

Glasgow (city wide)

Contact