Our Work > After The Riots
After the riots - Where now for UK parenting?
The riots in August 2011 have prompted a great deal of debate about family life and have shone a spotlight on the role of parents. In response to this increased scrutiny of parenting, we have invited 30 leading commentators and academics to examine parenting from a range of perspectives – and ask whether there really is a crisis of parenting in the UK.
View the 'Where Now For Parenting?' summary document, which includes policy implications, here.
View the 'Where Now For Parenting?' full article collection here in pdf.
Anand Shukla, Chief Executive, Daycare TrustAnand Shukla welcomes the glare on parenthood if it stops blaming and bewildering parents and helps to improve the quality and take up of child care and build a more family-friendly society.
Anne Marie Carrie, Chief Executive, Barnardo'sAnne Marie Carrie argues that we need to address the root causes of bad behaviour, not just the symptoms, and that this requires intensive support for families alongside addressing inequality.
Camila Batmanghelidjh, Founder, Kid's CompanyCamila Batmanghelidjh asserts enhancing parenting skills will never be a substitute for a child who has not been well cared for. She argues that child abuse is the cause of long-term dysfunction and our unwillingness to consider how to provide consistent attachment and love has led to a preoccupation with procedures and systems.
Chris Wellings, Policy Manager, Save the ChildrenChris Wellings argues that affordable childcare is a key strand of family and parenting policy essential for meeting the goals of maximising family incomes, making work pay and in turn tackling child poverty.
Enver Solomon, Director of Policy, The Children's SocietyEnver Solomon is struck by the absence of the child’s perspective in debates about the riots and argues that only by listening can we begin to see children as more than just recipients of parenting and begin to improve wellbeing.
Jeremy Todd, Chief Executive, Family LivesJeremy Todd examines the pressures on modern parents including technological advances and an increasingly commercialised world. He argues that increased efforts are required to build the resilience of young people and the confidence of parents to talk to their children.
Liz Gardiner and Jonathan Swan, Working FamiliesLiz and Jonathan analyse the pressures of those juggling employment and parenting. They argue that children will continue to be seen as an impediment to labour force participation until we reconsider what a family friendly economy would look like.
Pamela Park, Chief Executive, ParentingUKPamela Park sets out why a focus on parenting is essential, outlines a framework within which parenting can be transformed at key transition points, and highlights the importance of maintaining a measured approach to parenting and discipline after summer disturbances.
Ryan Shorthouse, Researcher, SMFRyan Shorthouse disputes the view that family life and parenting is on the decline and argues that politicians should stop lecturing parents, making them feel more anxious and guilty and start generating policies to improve income, jobs and to prevent feelings of isolation.
Shaun Bailey, Founder, My GenerationShaun Bailey argues that, as discipline has been labelled as old-fashioned, authority has shifted from parents towards education and the state. The response now should be a re-emphasis on parental responsibility.
Srabani Sen, Chief Executive, Contact A FamilySrabani Sen highlights the particular pressures on parents of disabled children and the challenge of finding time for good quality parenting and the need for a targeted and co-ordinated policy approach to support this group.
Vivienne Evans, Chief Executive, AdfamViv Evans argues that family policies can struggle to capture nuance when dealing with complex issues and highlights a central role for specialist drug and alcohol professionals at the heart of family interventions.
Yvonne Roberts, Journalist, ObserverYvonne Roberts examines the recent political history of family interventions. She argues that a reductionist and deficit-based approach to parenting support, confused outcomes and a lack of critical analysis has contributed to lack of understanding of key contextual factors to success like place, access and personalisation.
