Parent Champions Conference and Awards

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 12 May, 10am-2.30pm and Wednesday 13 May, 10am-12pm.

Registrations are now closed

The Conference is open to anyone working on or volunteering for a Coram Family and Childcare Parent Champions Scheme.

Agenda highlights:

• Keynote speaker: Liz Pemberton, Director of The Black Nursery Manager, will share insights around shaping early years environments that genuinely work for the communities they serve. This session will reflect on inclusive and anti-racist approaches to engaging families through children’s centres, Family Hubs and wider early years services
• Chris Nickson from the Department for Education will give an overview of the current Best Start in Life and Family Hubs policy and share why outreach and volunteering is important in bringing the policy to life.
• Last year’s winner of the Scheme of the Year award, Parent Champions Islington, will share more about their work and initiatives
• Parent Champions Lewisham will share how their Parent Champions have developed their volunteering roles to expand into group work
• Parent Champions St Helens will highlight how Parent Champions have been working within Family Hubs
• Interactive session for Coordinators and Parent Champions to come together to share ideas
• Presentation of this year’s Parent Champions Awards

Full agenda:

Day 1: Tuesday 12 May

10.00am – Welcome from Coram Family and Childcare

Lydia Hodges, Head of Coram Family and Childcare

10.10am –  Best Start in Life: The role of volunteers and outreach in Family Hubs

Chris will give an overview of the current Best Start in Life and Family Hubs policy and share why outreach and volunteering is important in bringing the policy to life.

Chris Nickson, Department for Education

10.35am – Keynote: Inclusive and anti-racist approaches to engaging families

Liz will share insights around shaping early years environments that genuinely work for the communities they serve. This session will reflect on inclusive and anti-racist approaches to engaging families through outreach, children’s centres, Family Hubs and wider early years services.

Liz Pemberton, Director, The Black Nursery Manager

11.20am – Break

11.30am – Scheme of the year 2025: Parent Champions Islington

Parent Champions Islington will share more about the work of their scheme and their Parent Champions over the past year, as well as plans for the future.

Selda Aygun, Parent Champions Coordinator & Parent Participation Officer, London Borough of Islington

12.00pm Lunch

12.45pm – Growing our impact: Parent Champions Lewisham in group work

Parent Champions Lewisham will share how some of their Parent Champions have developed their volunteering roles to expand into group work. They will share how Parent Champions have been supported, barriers, as well as future projects.

Leila Dantes-Michael, Parent Champions Coordinator Family Information Service Outreach Project Officer, Parent Champions Lewisham

Mihaela Avram-Ipistatu, Parent Champion

Martha Njele, Parent Champion

Sarah Jeffrey, Parent Champion

1.30pm – Parent Champions: Family Hubs approach to engagement

Parent Champions St Helens will share how their parents and carers participate in Family Hubs, including how they deliver their Parent Champions scheme, the impact and more about the ‘Spotlight’ sessions they offer volunteers to enhance knowledge.

Catherine Ellis, Parent Champions Coordinator & Volunteer & Mentoring Officer, Parent Champions St Helens

Steph Lunt, Parent Champion

2.15pm – Closing remarks

Day 2: Wednesday 13 May

10.00am – Parent Champions workshop: A review of the year and looking forwards

During this workshop, schemes will come together to discuss their work over the past year, as well as ideas and plans for the future.

Ellie Grace, Programmes and Development Manager, Coram Family and Childcare

11.00am – Break

11.15am – Parent Champions Awards 2026

Hosted by Carol Homden, CEO, Coram

12pm – Thank you and close

Download agenda