Parental groups and support


Stoke-on-Trent Family Hub has partnered with the Solihull Approach to offer free access to expertly designed online courses for parents, carers, grandparents and teens living in the region. Click here to sign up and to access the course you need: In our place - Stoke-on-Trent.

Key information on this page includes:

Parenting support groups

The supporting families team provide a wide range of parenting support for families in Stoke-on-Trent. These groups are open to every family in the city. Parents, carers, grandparents, foster carers and special guardians can attend these groups. All groups are free.

The groups can be accessed face-to-face at Family Hubs across the city.

All of our groups are led by trained professionals. By attending a group, parents will gain knowledge and skills whilst getting to know other parents.

Each course supports parents at different stages of their children’s life. Parents can access more than one course at any time.

What do I need to do to join a course?

  1. Send an email to familygroups@stoke.gov.uk with your name, telephone number and name of the group you are interested in.
  2. Your Group Worker will contact you to arrange a home visit. This is a great opportunity for them to get to know you a little better and to give you more details about the group. It also gives you a chance to ask any questions or raise any specific concerns about your child.
  3. Attend our friendly interactive group sessions
  4. Keep in touch. Unlike other family groups we do not stop support when you complete the course. If you would like us to, we can remain on hand to help you with any needs you have around parenting - we can even come and visit you at home.

My baby and me (postnatal)

Infant child looking happily towards the camera as it wriggles in a bed

This Solihull Approach post-natal course gives parents information about their baby’s brain development and their baby’s physical and emotional development. It shows how important their relationship with their baby is for the baby’s development during the first 1001 critical days. This group runs for eight weeks.

Enjoy your baby

Sleeping baby held in mothers arms

Having a baby is an exciting time! It is also a time of change and learning about your new baby and you. This course is to help parents and carers to understand new thoughts and feelings, help to plan time for your own wellbeing and build closeness with your baby to help settle you into parent life. Suitable for: Babies from Birth to nine months Bring your baby along to make some friends. This group runs for five weeks.

My family and me

Family of three walking together in park, mother and father both holding one of their child's hands

This group is for parents looking to gain skills in a range of different subject areas including physical health and wellbeing, nutrition and meal planning, basic IT and internet awareness, money and finances and getting into work or training. It is designed to equip parents to support their family to thrive and enjoy healthy relationships and also provides the opportunity to enhance their practical skills and achieve their potential. This group runs for six weeks.

Just me

Woman meditating alone

This group is designed to build confidence, reduce social isolation and improve wellbeing. Just for parents and carers, the course focuses on confidence building, wellness and self-care strategies, positive thinking, communication and healthy relationships within family networks. This group runs for five weeks.

Keeping your child in mind

Distressed couple

This group helps parents and carers work together to create a calmer family life for children. It helps adults think about what they do, why they do it and how it makes everyone feel in the family. It focuses on identifying difficult feelings and communicating these clearly, the importance of the parent/carer role and how to build healthy relationships in the family network. This group runs for four weeks.