Over 60 parents and professionals, working with children and families, attended the ‘Everyday Magic by Ordinary People’, Sharing Parenting Conference, on Wednesday 10^th July, at Newmarket Memorial hall.

Suzanne Pearson, Sharing Parenting’s Director said:

“We are so pleased at how well the conference was received this year. We had planned to run the conference every other year but pressure from positive feedback from last year’s conference and the fact that 2019 is Sharing Parenting’s 10^th birthday encouraged us to run it again this year, and we are so pleased we did.

The Parenting Conference was a huge success – it was good to see so many parents attending and chatting to the agencies who provided parenting information and support. 

We support families and professionals world wide and have Family Workers and Outreach Workers in and around Brandon, Haverhill, Lakenheath, Mildenhall and Newmarket so it was great that people were able to travel and join us today”

The conference was opened by Councillor Robert Everitt, from West Suffolk Council, and attendees enjoyed informative talks from Professor Emma Bond and Professor Andy Phippen who started the day off with ‘Listen don’t judge: understanding children’s online lives and parenting for digital resilience and wellbeing’. Fiona Peacock, Teaching Associate with the University of Cambridge, counsellor and therapist followed by giving an informative presentation about how Theraplay explores nurturing families through fun and how it can support resilience to addressing trauma”.

One parent commented “It was a really interesting day, I enjoyed learning new things about parenting and really enjoyed the presentations and the workshops”.

Other guest presenters and Sharing Parenting facilitators invited parents/carers and professionals to attend a choice of workshops: Lindy Wheeler, Psychodynamic Counsellor, hosted The Human Toolbox and shared strategies on how parents can use their Human Tools to build family relationships.

Annie Clements, Founder of the multiple award-winning Social Enterprise Autism & ADHD based in Ipswich hosted two workshops, ADHD and Autism – Access in schools and Child aggression towards parents.

Participants also enjoyed tasters from ‘Sharing Parenting’s’, Sibling Rivalry, Raising Teens, True Colours, Understanding Behaviour and Encouragement and Confidence.

Parents and professionals had the opportunity to find out more about how local agencies can support them, including Suffolk Libraries, Healthwatch Suffolk, Bury St Edmunds Women’s Aid Centre, Suffolk Family Carers, Palace House, Alumah C10, Domestic Abuse Champions Network Suffolk, Parent Carer Network, One Life, Citizen’s Advice, The K9 Project and Epic Dad’s.

Free lunch, cake, refreshments and goody bags were given to all attendees thanks to the generosity from local sponsors including Tattersalls, Newmarket Matters, Anglia Water, Tindalls, The Jockey Club Estates, Orbit Housing, Ormonde, Newmarket Horse Racing Museum, Beattys, Sainsburys, Co op, Tesco and Waitrose.

Transport was provided free of charge to parents who would not been otherwise able to attend by Mildenhall Parish Council.

Suzanne Pearson added, “The conference was part of our ongoing mission to support all parents in raising happy, healthy, confident children and to normalise parenting support.  We really believe that parents accessing parent support should be normal and we feel that all parents should be able to benefit from the range of tools and strategies that make our jobs a bit easier and our homes happier”

If you would like to find out more about Sharing Parenting or managing children’s behaviour please contact 01638 665997, info@sharingparenting.com or visit www.sharingparenting.com.