Strengthening Families Strengthening Communities (SFSC) Licences
Welcome & overview
What is the licence?
A local authority (LA) licence to SFSC online programmes grants access to any resident in your authority to one of the following:
- The SFSC Stronger Relationships Programme
- The SFSC Introduction to Parenting Programme
- Or a joint licence providing access to both
If you are unsure of what licence your LA has purchased, please check with your commissioning lead or one of our programme officers at The Race Equality Foundation to confirm which licence your local authority holds.
About SFSC
SFSC is rooted in social learning theory and guided by a quality assurance framework to ensure consistent, evidence-based delivery. Both inclusive programmes are six-week online interventions that combine interactive self-paced modules with weekly facilitated group discussions held on Zoom. They are designed to be flexible and accessible to all parents.
Click below to learn more and download flyers to share with parents, staff, and other stakeholders who may want to refer or find out more.
Who are the online SFSC programmes for?
Every parent or carer in your local authority can benefit from these programmes. They can either be referred by individual workers or register themselves to take part in our programmes.
Many parents who need support may not seek help through traditional statutory services. These programmes provide a valuable, accessible alternative, removing barriers to engagement and making it easier for families to get help early.
Our online SFSC programmes work for everyone but are especially supportive of Black, Asian and minority ethnic families and other marginalised groups and are built to be culturally aware and inclusive. They reflect the lived experiences and structural challenges many families face and are designed to be accessible to all parents, regardless of background or circumstance.
How to register parents
Parents must register directly and can begin the programme at any time.
Step-by-step:
- Visit the Strengthening Families, Strengthening Communities website
- Select the relevant programme that the parent needs to register for
- Click on the SFSC Stronger Relationships Programme registration page or the SFSC Introduction to Parenting Programme to register
- Complete registration, ensuring the postcode is entered to confirm access to LA’s licence
Quick Access:
- Use our specific programme flyers with QR codes to get access to the relevant SFSC course registration page
- Practitioners can assist parents with registration during visits or appointments
Dissemination & referrals
To ensure take-up across your local authority, we encourage teams to share the opportunity widely.
Who can refer?
Anyone in contact with a family can share the information with a parent and help them sign up. This includes
- Early help teams or social workers
- Family support workers from statutory or voluntary agencies
- Children’s centres
- Housing officers
- Health visitors
- Schools and education services
- SEND services
If a parent is interested in attending but needs some help to do so, we recommend you support them through the sign up process. Our team is also available to talk a parent through the process and once signed up we will encourage a parent to keep engaged with the course they have selected.
Monitoring & reporting
As part of your licence, you will receive quarterly reports detailing:
- Number of parents registered
- Engagement rates: completion, participation and non-engagement
- Demographics of registered parents (age, ethnicity, gender)
These reports are designed to support local evaluation and DWP reporting. If you need additional information, please contact us.
If you have any questions or need support, please contact the SFSC team. We’re here to help you get the most from your local authority’s licence.
REF Recruitment Support
The Race Equality Foundation will also support local recruitment through community groups, third sector organisations, and local campaigns.
FAQs
When is the next group starting?
New groups are scheduled regularly and availability can be checked on the registration pages for each programme here: Registration - SFSC Introduction Parenting Programme and Registration - SFSC Stronger Relationships Programme
Are these programmes suitable for parents of neurodiverse children?
Yes. The SFSC team has successfully supported parents of neurodiverse children and the programmes have techniques which can be tailored to the unique needs of the adults and children in any family
I want to refer a co-parent ‘couple’ who do not want to be in the same discussion group as each other. What do I do?
Contact the SFSC team with your request and the names of the co-parents and they will liaise with the parents to ensure that they are in different groups
I want to refer a parent whose first language is not English. Is this possible?
Please contact the SFSC team. Group discussions can be offered in a community language as long as groups can be filled with a minimum of six parents
Are the programmes suitable for parents involved in a family court case (private or public law)?
Yes. The SFSC team has extensive experience of supporting parents and carers involved in care proceedings, through the FGC process, those considering kinship care and parents wanting to settle the living and parenting arrangements for their children.
