PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
PARENTLINE PLUS JUST ASK CAMPAIGN (10 November 2005)

That this House congratulates Parentline Plus on the launch of its Just Ask campaign and welcomes the publication of its report `Parenting Behind Closed Doors - seeking help and feelings of failure: how to make the difference for parents and families'; commends Parentline Plus, the national charity, on its independent work undertaken to provide support and information on parenting issues through its 24 hour national helpline; applauds the volunteers on the helpline for their invaluable support given to parents under stress or in distress; stresses that asking for help when struggling with raising children should be seen as a strength, not a weakness, and demonstrates a wish to do the best for one's children; acknowledges that more support for parents is the answer to many challenges facing family life in today's society and recognises that more should be done to involve parents in shaping services in their area; and endorses the campaign's aim to promote the need for long term sustained investment in family support services so that the 24 million parents and carers in the United Kingdom can find information and support whenever they need it, because instructions are not included with parenthood.

Sponsored by:
Annette Brooke (Liberal Democrat)