Relationships Really Matter: Help parents can get locally

Find help locally if you are worried about your relationship and how this affects your children.

Relationship advice and support

If you have questions or need advice about reducing parental conflict directly, contact the Council's Reducing Parental Conflict Team by:

Telephone: 01158040517
Email: ReduceParentalConflict@nottscc.gov.uk

Online courses on reducing parental conflict

Relationships Really Matter: Parent or carer group sessions

All families argue. But, do you want to make sure that your arguments and worries don't affect your whole family?

These free sessions, delivered online by Nottinghamshire County Council, can help parents or carers to understand the impacts of adult arguments and disagreements on children. They can help you learn how to communicate and cooperate better.

We offer four sessions:

What are disagreements and arguments? - Session 1 explores the types and reasons for disagreements and
arguments in parental relationships, and the impact on children.
What are the triggers of disagreements? - Session 2 explores the stages of relationships, common
triggers of conflict and different communication styles
How to communicate and negotiate better? - Session 3 explores learning skills to communicate and negotiate more
positively to improve family relationships
What's next? - Session 4 provides a reflection of the programme, what further actions, care and support you can get.

To register for the free online sessions, email ReduceParentalConflict@nottscc.gov.uk or contact your local Nottinghamshire Family Hub

Download the parents and carers group sessions poster [PDF]

Support for new parents

Conflict is a normal part of adjusting to having a new baby in your lives.

But if you're worried about your relationship with your partner when you are pregnant, speak to your midwife or healthy families practitioner (health visitor). They will be able to suggest ideas to make things a little easier.

Family Hubs

Health professionals may also refer you to your local Family Hubs team or you can contact a family hub directly). Family hubs have experience in supporting families to adjust to a new baby, including

Me, You and Baby Too approach - practical tips on working on your relationship when you have a new baby.
Parents Health and Emotional Wellbeing (PHEW) sessions - meet with a small group of other new parents or one to one with a worker.
Baby and Breastfeeding Encouragement Support (BABES) groups - available to mums to be and breastfeeding mums.

Find a Family hub near you (Nottinghamshire County Council)

Parents with children under 5 years

Family life with pre-school children is very busy. Disagreements can happen between parents around things like behaviour, sleep routines, fussy eating and toilet training.

Sometimes it can feel like you can’t agree on anything!

Family hubs

Contact your local Family hub if you’d like some support to learn how to tackle everyday challenges of raising children.

Find a Family Hub near you (Nottinghamshire County Council)

Empowering Parents, Empowering Communities (Centre for Parent and Child Support)

Nottinghamshire is a part of the Empowering Parents Empowering Communities (EPEC) network, where trained parent volunteers work with other parents to support them with their parenting challenges.

EPEC is a proven method of prevention and early intervention that helps children and families get the very best start in life. It combines the latest developmental science and theory with well-evidenced parenting.

EPEC deliver two programmes locally through the Family Hub (for under 5s). These include:

Baby and Us - for parents of babies aged 0 to 1 year.
Being a Parent - for parents of children age 2 to 11 years.

For more information take a look at the videos in the Your Child's Behaviour page

For more about EPEC for children under 5, email EPEC@nottscc.gov.uk (opens in new tab)

Parents with school aged children and teenagers

A happy home environment has a big impact on how well children and teenagers learn and behave in school.

Lots of schools have support workers who can work with families on a range of different issues at home. Ask your child’s school if they can help.

Early Help Unit

Schools may refer your family to the Nottinghamshire County Council's Early Help Unit on your behalf.

The Early Help Unit can help support families with children aged 0 to 18 years old.

For questions, contact the Early Help Unit directly by:

Telephone: 0115 804 1248
Email: early.help@nottscc.gov.uk

Empowering Parents Empowering Communities (EPEC)

Nottinghamshire is a part of the Empowering Parents Empowering Communities (EPEC) network, where trained parent volunteers work with other parents to support them with their parenting challenges.

They understand that there is no such thing as the perfect parent.

EPEC deliver two programmes locally through the Family Service (for over 5s). These include:

Being a Parent - for parents of children age 2 to 11 years.
Living with Teenagers - for parents of adolescents aged 12 to 16 years.

Learn more about the program in the instructional videos on Your Child's Behaviour page

For more about EPEC for children over 5, contact an EPEC coordinator in your area:

North (Bassetlaw, Newark and Sherwood)
Alice Lavender, EPEC Coordinator, Nottinghamshire County Council
Telephone: 07773 947 714
Email: alice.lavender@nottscc.gov.uk (opens in new tab)

South (Gedling, Rushcliffe and Broxtowe)
Jennifer Creighton, EPEC Coordinator. Nottinghamshire County Council
Telephone: 07773661063
Email: jennifer.creighton@nottscc.gov.uk (opens in new tab)

West (Mansfield and Ashfield)
Elise Bottomley, EPEC Coordinator, Nottinghamshire County Council
Telephone: 07824 406 563
Email: elise.bottomley@nottscc.gov.uk (opens in new tab)