WHY A PARENT HOUSE?
“It became clear that some of our parents were facing so many challenges that asking them to do more to support their children’s education was adding another layer of stress to their lives. What we needed to do was to help parents to reduce their problems and give them a space for themselves.”
Jane, Former Headteacher
Local data shows that Islington has high levels of poverty, ethnic diversity and language need, with many families requiring additional support to access services and navigate systems effectively. There are also elevated levels of special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) across the borough, alongside increasing demand for mental health, parenting, and early help services.
These structural challenges disproportionately affect lone parents, disabled parents, and families from minoritised backgrounds, who are more likely to experience unemployment, welfare reliance, and social exclusion.
The Need
There are organisations to help older people, the vulnerable, children, babies, single parents but very little specifically for people who are ‘just’ parents.
Being a parent is not easy and is not necessarily intuitive. People may have had poor experiences in their own childhood and feel they want to do things differently, or to be facing loneliness or stress. But where do they go to for support and sensitive advice?
The Context
The Parent House is situated in the London borough of Islington which is well documented for its levels of disadvantage:
We have the highest child poverty rate in London at 43% and are the 6th most deprived out of 32 boroughs
These statistics underscore the need for targeted support and intervention.
Data from Children and Young People - UTLA | Islington | Islington Council Data including Index of multiple deprivation
The Opportunity
A small house, formerly for the school premises manager at Winton primary school, became vacant and the school saw an opportunity to create a space for parents.
Governors were supportive and a charity was set up.
Islington Council was approached and agreed to lease the building on a peppercorn rent.
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The Planning
A charity was formed, Hans Haenlein, architect, kindly gave his services pro bono and an approach to The Big Lottery Fund was successful. Parents were consulted about what should go into the house and it was agreed to retain the family feeling with a kitchen and sitting area, with the upstairs rooms converted to IT and training rooms. The existing living room leading onto the garden would be used for a creche.
The Launch
The Parent House was opened with the guest appearance of actor Sanjiv Baskar and attended by many interested people from Islington and elsewhere.
Since then, the Parent House has celebrated its birthday every summer with a party in the garden and food cooked and provided by the parents.
The Impact
From its beginning in 2000, the Parent House has grown to serve the needs of parents across the borough and beyond.
It has improved people’s wellbeing, changed lives in many ways and helped parents into further training, voluntary work and jobs.
It is recognised locally and nationally and achieved the Queen’s Award for Voluntary Services in 2017.
“In a city of so many closed doors it’s nice to know that ours is always open.”