Swansea young families get off to Best Start with their own storybook

Swansea young families get off to Best Start with their own storybook

Young parents at Action for Children’s Swansea Support, Advice, Informal advocacy and Life coaching (SAIL) service have been writing and illustrating their own book with the help of Swansea’s Healthy Cities Best Start initiative working in partnership with the Swansea Healthy and Sustainable Pre-School Scheme.

Local illustrator and authors Thomas and Helen Docherty have led the two day workshop in Penlan Methodist Church in Swansea and their story will be published and placed in the city’s libraries in the New Year.

The theme of the book is healthy eating and wellbeing and will be dedicated to the children of the young parents who took part.

The book will be available in libraries across Swansea and also be used to promote healthy living in childcare settings across Swansea

Swansea SAIL is a service that offers one-to-one and group support for young parents and parents-to-be aged 14 to 25 years old living in the city. The project tailors an approach that suits individual needs including support from a life coach or a multi systemic therapist, informal advocacy, individual or couples therapy, preparing for court and dealing with having a child in foster care or adopted.

The service also helps our young parents or parents-to-be with wellbeing, emotional resilience, isolation, self-esteem and confidence to help them become the best parents they can be.

Alison Long, team leader at the Swansea SAIL project, said: ‘It’s been a real thrill seeing our young parents take part so enthusiastically in writing and illustrating their book. It’s brought a genuine feeling of achievement and the fact the book is dedicated to their children has only added to the energy in the room.

‘Some of the young parents have faced exceptionally hard circumstances in their lives and it’s been great to see how the project has boosted their confidence as they produce something long lasting for their children.’

Adam Evans, 19, a young parent-to-be from Swansea who is being helped by the project, said: ‘It’s been fab, I’ve learned a lot for when my child is born like how to draw and how to put a story together. So when my child is born I can show him or her how it’s done and teach how to do it properly. I’ve met some new people too which is really important I’m nervous about becoming a father so meeting other people and learning from their experience has been great.’

Swansea Council’s Cabinet Member for Health & Wellbeing, Cllr Mark Child, said: ‘Swansea Council is committed to this Healthy City initiative of working with young parents and families to give every child in the city the best possible start in life.

‘We are delighted to be supporting our partners on projects such as this book which all those who have been involved can be very proud of.  I’m looking forward to seeing it on the shelves at libraries across Swansea and would encourage other young parents and parents-to-be to seek it out.’

How Action for Children works: from before they are born until they are into their twenties, we help disadvantaged children across the UK. We help them through fostering or adoption – and by intervening early to stop neglect and abuse. We make life better for disabled children. We influence policy and advocate for change. Our 7,000 staff and volunteers operate over 600 services, improving the lives of 390,000 children, teenagers, parents and carers every year. We succeed by doing what’s right, doing what’s needed, and doing what works for children.

For more information, visit www.actionforchildren.org.uk or follow us on Twitter @cymru_AFC