Parent Power comes to Abbey ward in Cambridge to tackle educational inequalities
‘Parent Power’ is coming to Abbey ward in Cambridge to help tackle educational inequalities and the impacts of deprivation.
The project is designed to empower parents to help make positive change for their children.
It is supported by the local charity Abbey People, Cambridge City Council, business and academic member organisation Cambridge Ahead and university access charity The Brilliant Club.
Abbey Parent Power will be the eighth Parent Power chapter established across the country by The Brilliant Club.
In Fenland, the group met with decision makers to push for better active travel routes to improve connections to opportunities in Cambridge and Peterborough.
And Peterborough Parent Power is working on a campaign to increase access to work experience opportunities, while in East Oxford, parents arranged a special open day at the University of Oxford’s Trinity College and is aiming to broaden access to extra-curricular activities for their children.
The project is designed to hear parents’ views on further and higher education, apprenticeships and employment opportunities in Abbey ward, which is one of the most deprived areas of the city. Just 27.1 per cent of young people from Abbey attend university, compared to the national average of 39 per cent.
Jimmy Pickering, director of communities at The Brilliant Club, said: “We are excited to launch Abbey Parent Power with a such a fantastic team of local partners.
“Parents and carers in Abbey must be at the forefront of the drive to improve access to opportunities in their area. Abbey Parent Power will ensure that this is the case. I’m looking forward to seeing what action families take to create meaningful change for their local community.”
Under the project, parents will be supported to work collectively and campaign for change. They will receive training in ‘community organising’ in partnership with Citizens UK.
By developing education champions within the community, parents and carers will have easy access to the information and guidance they need to support their children through their education and into careers.
Nicky Shephard, CEO of Abbey People, said: “Abbey People exists to make Abbey a better place and one of the ways we do this is by responding to identified needs within the local community. We are thrilled to be working alongside dedicated partners to tackle the educational inequality in our ward. Educational opportunities change lives and we are keen to empower parents to make change to support their children’s future.”
Dan Thorp, chief executive of Cambridge Ahead, added: “Empowering parents and young people is vital to ensuring that everyone can benefit from the education and employment opportunities Cambridge provides. We’re delighted to be working with Abbey People, The Brilliant Club, Cambridge City Council and partners across the Cambridge ecosystem to help grow a more inclusive local economy.”
Cllr Rachel Wade, executive councillor for communities at Cambridge City Council, said: “I’m pleased that the council is supporting this extremely worthwhile and inspiring project in Abbey ward that is set to have a real and lasting impact on people’s lives, equipping parents with new skills and enabling young people in Abbey to fulfil their ambitions and benefit from the opportunities available in the city.
“With more than £100million proposed to be invested in Abbey in the years ahead, Abbey Parent Power is a great example of the new, collaborative approach the council is taking with partners to improve life for residents in Abbey and across the city.”
