Establishing an effective and representative Parent Voice Network in Coventry - Coventry City Council

The Coventry Parent Voice Network was established to amplify parent and carer involvement in shaping local services, driven by Family Hub and Start for Life National Framework to create Parent Carer Panels. Through a co-designed three-tier system, diverse parent champions, digital platforms, and inclusive outreach, the initiative fostered strong participation, with over 445 parents involved. Key results include improved service responsiveness, increased awareness of youth and SEND services, and impactful events like the Youth Takeover, engaging 408 young people. Parent feedback reports 98% satisfaction and 93% feeling more involved, demonstrating the programme’s success in empowering families and strengthening community cohesion.

The Coventry Parent Voice Network started because parents said they didn’t know about Family Hubs or felt services didn’t meet their needs. The council and partners wanted to change this by working closely with families. The goal was to make services more useful, improve outcomes for children, and build stronger community links. Central government also required councils to set up Parent Carer Panels as part of the Family Hub and Start for Life programme to make sure parents are involved and communities have a voice in shaping services.

The Coventry Parent Voice Network was established in response to the growing recognition of the importance of involving parents and carers directly in shaping the Family Hub offer. The requirement to form Parent Carel Panels from central government as part of the Family Hub and Start for Life programme emphasising participatory governance and community engagement. Local parents also shared feedback they did not know about family hubs, the offer and the service did not meet the needs of the community. Coventry City Council and local partner agencies identified that empowering parents through structured engagement could lead to more responsive services, improved outcomes for children, and stronger community cohesion.

The main aims were: 

1) Give parents and carers a voice in decisions about Family Hubs and related services. 

2) Build good relationships between families and service providers.

3) Find and address gaps in support, especially for vulnerable groups.

4) Improve services based on parent feedback. 

5) Help parents feel included and connected to their community.

The primary objectives of the Coventry Parent Voice Network were:

• To amplify parent and carer voices in local decision-making processes concerning the Family Hub offer as well as the wider connected offer in Coventry.
• To foster collaborative relationships between families and service providers.
• To identify and address unmet needs within the community, especially among vulnerable and underrepresented groups.
• To enhance the quality and relevance of local services based on direct parent feedback.
• To promote social inclusion and community resilience through active parent participation.

We began by asking parents for feedback on brochures and leaflets, but soon realised we needed to listen first and then act. The project started with surveys and grew into parent champions and volunteering roles. Key steps included recruiting Parent Champions from diverse backgrounds, training them in communication and safeguarding, creating an online platform for feedback, and holding regular meetings and events.

We started to consult parents about Start for Life brochure, communication, leaflets and feedback on the family hub offer. However, we felt this wasn’t collaborative and we needed to first listen to their needs and then inform service and communication. The parent carer panel began with surveys and feedback on the start for life and family hub offer, and progressed into parent champions and volunteering opportunities.

Key steps included:

• Recruitment of Parent Champions: Volunteers from diverse backgrounds were recruited to serve as Parent Champions, acting as ambassadors within their communities. Recruitment was done via schools, Faith Centres, community centres, Existing Family Hub families and online platforms, ensuring inclusivity.
• Training and Capacity Building: Parent Champions received (Coram Parent Champion) training on communication, advocacy, safeguarding, GDPR, navigating difficult conversations and understanding local services to enable effective engagement.
• Creating a Digital Platform: An accessible online website, Digital surveys, a Direct and Indirect engagement tracking tool, and a newsletter were established to facilitate ongoing feedback, discussions, and sharing of resources.
• Organising Regular Forums and Events: Monthly virtual and face-to-face meetings were held to gather insights, discuss issues, and co-design solutions.
• To involve as many parents as possible, we used surveys, focus groups, and community outreach in different languages. Parents told us clear communication and trust were essential.
• To maximise participation, the project employed flexible engagement methods, including surveys, focus groups, and community outreach in multiple languages. Feedback from parents highlighted the importance of accessible communication channels and trust-building activities.

The network helped parents feel part of a community, which improved confidence and well-being. Parent Champions learned new skills and helped others access services. Feedback led to changes in brochures and better communication about youth and SEND services. A major success was the Youth Takeover event, which brought together over 400 young people and 65 partner organisations for activities and support. Over 445 parents joined the network, and surveys show 93% feel more involved and 98% are satisfied.

• Public Health and Well-being:

The network fostered a sense of community and belonging among parents, which contributed positively to mental health and well-being. Parent Champions reported increased confidence in navigating local services and advocating for their children, leading to improved access to children's services and wider support in their communities.

• Social and Community Benefits:

One of the most notable outcomes of the Coventry Parent Voice Network has been its impact on making local services more responsive and inclusive. Through ongoing parent feedback, several tangible changes were implemented, notably within the Start for Life programme and its associated brochure. Feedback from parents ensured that Coventry families were accurately represented, making the materials more relevant and accessible to diverse community groups.

Additionally, raising awareness of critical services such as Youth, NEET (Not in Education, Employment, or Training), and SEND (Special Educational Needs and Disabilities) was a key focus. Parent input helped identify gaps in communication and outreach, prompting targeted efforts to increase visibility and understanding of these services among families.

A flagship initiative resulting from these enhancements was the Family Hub & Community Initiative to Reduce Violence (CIRV) Youth Takeover. This event brought together over 408 young people aged between 6-18 and 19-25 with SEND, providing a dynamic platform for youth engagement. 

The event featured:

• 65 partners , including local charities, public services, council members, and community youth organisations.
• A variety of activities and information stalls designed to facilitate access to support services, promote safety, and empower young people.
• Active participation of local elected council members and public services, demonstrating a commitment to listening and responding to youth voices.
• The Youth Takeover not only provided a safe and engaging environment for young people but also fostered stronger connections between youth, community organisations, and policymakers. Parent feedback indicated that these efforts increased young people's awareness of available support and services and contributed to a sense of community ownership and empowerment.

• In the past year, over 445 parents actively participated in the network within the last year representing a broad spectrum of the community.

  Empowerment and Capacity Building:

  Parent Champions gained skills in advocacy, organisation, and leadership, becoming key community assets. One Parent Voice Champion shared, "Being a Parent Voice Champion has given me new-found confidence, and I have even gone on to enrol at university to study social work. None of this would have been possible without the respect, knowledge and confidence I gained through my involvement with Coventry Family Hubs."

• Survey Results: 93% of participating parents reported feeling more involved in their child's education.
• Service Improvements: 100% of feedback collected contributes to policy or service adjustments on a regular basis. Meaning that the Parent Voice Network is consulted first before any changes are made to make sure we are getting representation from parents and children. The Parent Voice Network is currently directly involved with the Families First Programme Partnership to directly influence the social reforms.
• Direct Survey responses: The Parent Champions for the programme were responsible for engaging with over 600 families this year, resulting in the same number of surveys completed. A key achievement is the Family Hub surveys, which help us to understand the experiences of families accessing the Family Hub offer.
• 98% of families reported satisfaction
• 95% feel a strong sense of community

Parent Voice Network Members' Satisfaction: A survey indicated an 80% increase in overall satisfaction with the Family Hub offer and wider connected offer compared to pre-project baselines.

Lessons Learned and Adaptations

We learned that diversity needs targeted outreach, flexibility helps more parents join, and trust takes time. Future plans include more digital tools, peer support, and tailored resources.

• Inclusivity Is Crucial: Ensuring diverse representation required targeted outreach to underrepresented groups, including multilingual communication.
• Flexibility in Engagement: Offering both online and in-person options increased participation, especially among working parents and those with limited internet access.
• Building Trust Takes Time: Consistent communication and genuine listening were key to establishing credibility with parents.

Based on these insights, future plans include expanding digital engagement tools, creating peer support networks, and developing tailored resources for specific community needs.

The network has influenced policies and improved services. It is expected to continue and grow, with Parent Champions playing a key role in keeping families involved.

The Coventry Parent Voice Network has demonstrated significant progress toward its initial objectives. The active involvement of parents has influenced policy changes and improved service delivery. The model's success suggests it will be sustainable, with plans to embed it into local governance structures and expand its scope. Moreover, the role of Parent Champions has proven invaluable, serving as trusted links between families and providers. Their ongoing involvement is expected to continue driving community-led improvements.

Recommendations for Other Councils: 

• Start with genuine listening: Establish trust before expecting active participation and incorporate a co-led initiative.
• Invest in training and support: Equip Parent Champions with the necessary skills.
• Prioritise inclusivity: Reach out to diverse communities to ensure broad representation.
• Use multiple engagement channels: Combine digital, face-to-face, and paper-based methods.
• Integrate feedback into decision-making: Demonstrate how parent input influences policies to sustain engagement. 

Things to consider:

• Earlier engagement with seldom heard groups to enhance diversity and representation.
• More structured feedback analysis and reporting might improve transparency.

• Long-term funding and resource allocation are vital for sustainability.

The Coventry Parent Voice Network shows how listening to parents can improve services and strengthen communities. It offers a model other councils can follow to involve families and make services better.

The Coventry Parent Voice Network exemplifies how meaningful parent engagement can lead to tangible improvements in local services, community cohesion, and individual well-being. Its success underscores the importance of inclusive, flexible, and sustained involvement strategies. As it continues to evolve, it offers a replicable model for other local authorities aiming to empower families and enhance service responsiveness.

For further details and access to project documents, visit the Coventry City Council’s dedicated webpage on parent engagement: Coventry Parent Voice – Coventry City Council

For a comprehensive understanding of how we embedded a flexible and multi-layered Parent Voice Network, it is helpful to review the PowerPoint presentation detailing the co-design process of a 3-tier Parent Voice System. This model was specifically developed to incorporate multiple entry points, allowing parents to engage at different levels based on their personal availability, capacity, and interests. Each tier was designed to promote inclusivity and to provide an accessible outlet for ongoing involvement.

The Parent Champions designed this multi-layered system to increase inclusivity, representation, and meaningful engagement of all parents within the community. Each tier builds upon the previous one, offering progressively deeper levels of involvement.

Tier 1: Digital Support and Feedback 

• This foundational level involves providing parents with accessible ways to share their views and experiences through digital tools such as surveys, online polls, and feedback forms.
• It allows parents who may have limited time or mobility to contribute conveniently from home or on the go.
• This tier helps gather broad, representative data on parent perspectives, ensuring their voices are captured even if they cannot attend in-person meetings.

Tier 2: Active Engagement and Involvement 

• Building on Tier 1, parents at this level are encouraged to participate in network meetings, which occur every 6 weeks at a different Family Hub or Community Centre, with the option to attend virtually. They also have the option to attend focus groups and direct research activities. In the last year, the network has done direct peer-led research for the DFE, Youth Endowment Fund, Speech & Language, SENDIAS and more.
• They have options to be involved more actively, such as joining discussions, providing detailed feedback, or taking part in specific projects with other organisations and Family Hubs.
• This tier offers a more personal and collaborative approach, giving parents opportunities to shape initiatives and policies directly, fostering deeper engagement and a sense of ownership.

Tier 3: Leadership and Volunteering 

• At this highest level, parents who have participated in the previous tiers access specialised Coram Parent Champion training, equipping them with skills in advocacy, facilitation, and project management. They will also gain access to our training portal with Adult Education. (Currently being developed).
• They can volunteer directly within community settings, Family Hubs and specific organisations in areas they wish to champion by supporting initiatives, mentoring other parents, or leading parent groups.
• This tier enables parents to take on leadership roles, influence decision-making more directly, and contribute to the ongoing development of inclusive and supportive environments. The Parent Champions sit on the Early Help Leadership Panel with Senior leaders and are consulted in all decision-making within the council.

Summary:

This 3-tier system creates a pathway for all parents to become involved at a level that suits their capacity and interest, from sharing opinions digitally to becoming trained leaders and volunteers. It ensures inclusivity by offering multiple entry points, fostering empowerment, and amplifying diverse parent voices across the community