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Parent Champions conference and awards 2018

The Parent Champions conference and awards 2018 was held on Tuesday 13 March 2018.

The Parent Champions conference is held every year to celebrate the achievements of Parent Champions and gives attendees an opportunity to learn more from the experiences of local Parent Champions schemes.

The conference was attended by members of the Parent Champions National Network and welcomed Nadhim Zahawi MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Children and Families and Michelle Dyson, Director of Early Years and Childcare from the Department for Education. The event proved to be a day of inspiration and celebration as we heard about the wonderful impact Parent Champions had made in their local communities and the wider national achievements of the Parent Champions programme.

Over 2400 two year olds have accessed free childcare over the last year thanks to the help of a Parent Champion. To further recognise the contributions of our Parent Champions volunteers towards the advancement of early education across the country, the Parent Champions Biggest Impact on two year old take up award was introduced at the Parent Champions conference and awards 2018.

The Parent Champions awards winners

The Parent Champions awards seek to recognise, support, and encourage the work of Parent Champions schemes and the coordinators and volunteers that make schemes possible. Parent Champions are changing the lives of families across the country and their achievements deserve to be celebrated.

Parent Champions Lisa Cassidy and Marie Mcloed, Volunteer of the year, joint winners — Volunteer of the year
Lisa Cassidy and Marie Mcleod (joint winners), Parent Champions Tower Hamlets

Parent Champions Coordinator, Marie-Louise Fuentes, Coordinator of the year — Volunteer of the year
Lisa Cassidy and Marie Mcleod (joint winners), Parent Champions Tower Hamlets

Parent Champions Leeds, Biggest impact two year old take up — Biggest impact on two year old take up
Parent Champions Leeds

Parent Champions Redbridge, Outstanding contribution — Biggest impact on two year old take up
Parent Champions Leeds

What people said about the conference

“Lots of useful information and ideas I can use. Very motivational event. I think all Parent Champions should attend and experience this day.” – Parent Champions coordinator

“Reinvigorated and inspired me and reminded me of the importance of the volunteering role we have.” – Parent Champion

“I learnt a lot on how much Parent Champions can do. I can also do that and help new parents.” – Parent Champion

"It has enhanced my passion and determination to make our Parent Champions scheme a success.” – Parent Champions coordinator

“It’s helped inspire more ideas of how I can support my local children’s centre and how to engage parents to make use of their local schemes” – Parent Champion

Nadhim Zahawi MP, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Children and Families, met with a group of Parent Champions
Parent Champions share notes following a workshop
Parent Champion coordinator attending the ‘Parent Champions for migrants, refugees and ethnic minorities’ workshop
Parent Champions socialising during the lunch break
Head of Programmes, Ruth Dwight, sharing new ambitious plans for the Parent Champions programme
Parent Champions attending the Parent Champions conference and awards 2018
Parent Champions Wolverhampton delivering the 'Managing and supporting volunteers' workshop
Parent Champions Brent delivering the 'From setup to impact and sustainability' workshop
Parent Champions coordinator discussing ideas at a workshop
Parent Champions were sharing the day via the #PCawards18 hashtag
Parent Champions Redbridge delivering the 'Uptake of the two year old early education offer' workshop
Parent Champion at the conference hall
Michelle Dyson, Director of Early Years and Childcare at the Department for Education, announcing the award nominees
Chief Executive Ellen Broomé and her daughter close the conference and thank delegates for attending
Parent Champions Coordinator Marie-Louise Fuentes from Parent Champions Croydon won the Coordinator of the year 2018 award
Parent Champions Lisa Cassidy and Marie Mcleod from Parent Champions Tower Hamlets were joint winners for the Volunteer of the year 2018 award
Parent Champions Leeds won the Biggest impact on two year old take up 2018 award
Parent Champions Wolverhampton won the Scheme of the year 2018 award
Parent Champions Redbridge won the Outstanding contribution to the Parent Champions National Network 2018 award