Please explore these free family focused parenting resources and courses.
Resources
Essential Parenting is a library of information, videos, and resources to support parents of babies and children through to teenagers. You can access Essential Parenting through eCare.
The Anya app provides digital pregnancy, birth and early parenting support through to early years. It includes NHS-approved information, personalised guidance, in-app messaging symptom checks, wellbeing support, feeding advice, appointment reminders and evidence‑based information tailored to each stage. The app is free for parents living in Wigan due to the council’s investment in early help and family support. Anya helps parents feel more confident, supported and informed, while also reducing anxiety and improving outcomes for both parents and babies.
If you need to speak to someone regarding domestic abuse, please get in touch with one of our local and confidential support services:
Can-Do programme
The Can‑Do programme is a free, parent‑led service for families in Wigan who have concerns about their child's speech, language and communication development. It focuses on giving parents and carers simple, practical ideas they can use every day to support their child, building confidence and understanding along the way. The programme is to support children early on, including those who are late to talk, not using sentences or finding communication difficult. Can-Do is flexible around family life and offers support digitally so families can take part in this when it works for them and while waiting for specialist speech and language therapy.
How to join the Can-Do programme
You will need access to a smartphone and WhatsApp to join the programme.
Once enrolled
- The programme is delivered through WhatsApp
- You will receive short videos and practical ideas to use at home
- You can work through the programme at a pace that suits your family
- Support is available if you need help at any point
- You can withdraw from the programme at any stage.
The programme usually lasts 8 to 10 weeks.
Support to join
If you’re not sure whether Can‑Do is right for your child, or you have not been offered a joining link, you can speak to:
- Your Health Visitor
- Your child’s early years setting or school
- Your local Family Hub.
They can help you access the programme or advise on other support available.
Courses
Online Courses:
Silver Cloud Programmes
Online programmes designed to guide you in supporting your child or teenager who is dealing with worry and anxiety. Parents can complete these courses independently:
Solihull Understanding pregnancy, labour, birth and your baby
Free online course for all parents, grandparents and carers expecting to welcome a new baby it includes all the practical information and advice you might expect from a traditional antenatal class with the additional benefit of support around emotional and mental wellbeing for you and your baby.
Face to Face Courses:
We also offer a range of face-to-face courses to improve and support the relationship between you and your child. These courses are available to attend at the family hub.
Togetherness Course
A nine-week course for parents and carers on understanding behaviour, emotional support, resilience, reflective thinking, relationships, and the teenage brain and development.
The Nurturing Programme
A ten-week course for parents and carers of younger children, focusing on empathy, empowerment, understanding behaviour, and cooperative parenting. The course provides strategies for discipline, emotional wellbeing, and creating a calmer home, while highlighting the importance of nurturing both parent and child.
Ride the Rapids Course
The course takes place for two hours and runs for nine weeks. Each weekly session covers a different aspect of understanding and managing the behaviour of children with Autism or another disability. There are primary age and teenage courses available.
Family Transitions
A course for separated parents experiencing Parental conflict currently being delivered evening online and face to face in a group, staff trained can deliver this one to one. The course runs for five weeks please ensure that consent is gained from parents for checks with the Domestic Abuse team to ensure parents are receiving the correct level of support.
Youth Connect 5
Youth Connect Five courses give parents and carers the knowledge, skills and understanding to help their children develop strong emotional wellbeing through resilience-building techniques.
To book a place on any of the face to face courses please contact early help and development.