Enfield parents meet Minister for Children and Families

Parents from Enfield, London were specially invited to meet Sarah Teather MP, Minister for Children and Families, yesterday.

They were there to tell her about the Speakeasy course from the sexual health charity FPA that gives them the skills and confidence to talk to their children about relationships and sex. They also talked about the importance of relationships and sex education in schools.

The Minister heard from parents at Brettenham Primary School and St Michael at Bowes Church of England Junior School, both in Enfield. They discussed the impact that the award-winning FPA Speakeasy programme has had in helping them have those difficult conversations, and how they engage with their children’s schools on relationships and sex education.

Speakeasy courses have been running for parents in Enfield since 2008, and nearly 1,000 parents have completed the programme.

Malal, parent of a four year old pupil at St. Michael at Bow School said, “By attending it has helped me to talk effectively with my children. It also helped me communicate with other parents – I was able to encourage them to attend a Speakeasy course to empower them to talk about relationships and sex with their children.”

Doris, a parent at Brettenham Primary School added, “Speakeasy helped break down the barriers between ethnic groups – it gave us a better understanding of our differences.”

Thanking Sarah Teather for taking time out from her busy schedule to see them, David Kesterton, FPA Parenting and Community Project Manager, said, “It was really valuable for the Minister to hear first hand from Speakeasy parents how much this programme has helped them to become confident educators with their children.”

Sarah Teather MP said, “The parents I met today spoke enthusiastically about how the Speakeasy programme has given them confidence and skills to talk to their children about sex and relationships. What’s more, they are then getting involved in their schools’ work on Relationships and Sex Education and passing on this understanding to other parents, helping them to have much easier conversations around what they had previously thought to be an awkward issue. I fully support the aims and objectives of the Speakeasy programme.”

The FPA Speakeasy project has helped more than 15,000 adults across the UK to face those difficult conversations and awkward questions from children about sex with confidence, knowledge and new found skills. The award-winning project started in 1995 and this year 80 local authorities across the country ran courses for parents and carers.

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For further information please contact the FPA press office on 020 7608 5265/5264. Mobile 07958 921060.

The sexual health charity FPA champions the importance of good sexual health for everyone. We educate, inform, support and campaign for people across the UK. The Family Planning Association is a registered charity, number 250187.

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