You are here: Parent Champions Conference and Awards 2025
The Parent Champions Conference and Awards gives attendees an opportunity to learn more from the experiences of local Parent Champions schemes and is free to attend for all National Network members.
This year's event will take place online over two days on Tuesday 13 May, 10am-2.15pm and Wednesday 14 May, 10am-12pm.
Day 1: Tuesday 13 May
10.00am | Welcome from Coram Family and Childcare
10.10am | Keynote: Julian Grenier CBE, Education Endowment Foundation
10.35am | Early Education Entitlements update, Maria Sciara, Department for Education
11.00am | Break
11.15am | Volunteer Recruitment: Insights, Strategies, and Best Practices, Victoria Dickinson, NCVO (The National Council for Voluntary Organisations)
This interactive session will explore the motivations behind volunteering, drawing on key findings from the Time Well Spent Survey (NCVO, 2019). Attendees will understand how national trends affect the recruitment of Parent Champion volunteers and will learn practical, effective methods to attract and retain volunteers. Through group exercises and discussions, participants will leave with actionable ideas to strengthen local Parent Champions programmes and build sustainable volunteer networks.
12.15pm | Lunch break
12.45pm | The importance of parent participation and the role of Parent Champions, Parent Champions Wandsworth
- What is participation and why is it so important?
- How participation is implemented in Wandsworth and how Parent Champions can be paramount
- The thin line between participation and exploitation
1.30pm | Making the most of your Parent Champions scheme, Parent Champions Islington
Selda will share her insights on how she manages Parent Champions in Islington, including management of volunteers and recognition.
2.15pm | Close
Day 2: Wednesday 14 May
10.00am | A review of the year and looking forwards, Ellie Grace, Programmes and Development Manager, Coram Family and Childcare
10.30am | Hear from Scheme of the Year 2024: Parent Champions Norfolk, Parent Champions Norfolk
Parent Champions Norfolk will share more about their scheme, the work of their Parent Champions and their plans for the future.
11.00am | Break
11.15am | Parent Champions Awards 2025, Hosted by Carol Homden, CEO, Coram
11.45am | Thank you and close
The Conference is open to anyone working on or volunteering for a Coram Family and Childcare Parent Champions Scheme.
Award categories
Nominating a volunteer, scheme or coordinator for an award is a brilliant way to celebrate success over the past year. The awards categories for this year are:
For schemes:
Parent Champions Scheme of the Year
For coordinators:
Parent Champions Coordinator of the Year
For volunteers:
The Biggest Impact Award
The Personal Development Award
Best Newcomer
Nominations are now closed.
Winners will be announced on the second day of the Parent Champions conference on Wednesday 14 May.
More Parent Champions conference and awards

Interested in setting up a Parent Champions scheme?
