'Parenting and Family Support' was the focus of an event hosted by Fermanagh Early Years Forum in the Killyhevlin Hotel, Enniskillen.

The evening was targeted at family practitioners who provide services for families. The Guest Speaker was Clem Henricson, Director of Policy and Research with the Family and Parenting Institute based in London.

He outlined the need to provide services for all families, particularly those who do not engage readily in the services that they most need. He highlighted the importance of providing outreach services and delivering services in the family home.

Mr. Henricson also shared research which had been carried out by the Family & Parenting Institute. It revealed that all managers of Family Support Services stressed the importance of building a relationship with families. "These relationships are often the catalysts for successful engagement with families", he said. One of the recommendations from the research was the need for sustainable funding for voluntary and community organisations which provide services for families that are complementary to and as essential as the statutory services.

Copies of the research can be downloaded from the Family and Parenting website: www.familyandparenting.org

Jenny Boyd, the Acting Chairperson for Fermanagh Early Years Forum drew attention to the valuable work of the Forum which was set up in 1998 as a sub-group of the Western Area Childcare Partnership. It aims to provide a voice for the Early Years Sector in Fermanagh, give an input into policy development and decision - making childcare services and providing opportunities for peer support and training for childcare practitioners.

"Partnership is central to our work and we are keen to ensure all childcare organisations are represented on the Forum".

Any organisation interested in the work of the Fermanagh Early Years Forum should contact Jenny at Enniskillen Nursery on 6634 2694 or Denyse Walker at Home-Start Lakeland on 6634 6818.