We’re thrilled to share an exciting milestone in our work with the Parent Power initiative. We’ve successfully recruited 159 parents and carers to participate in our UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) funded evaluation of Parent Power, a ground breaking research project conducted in collaboration with King’s College London. This marks a significant step forward in understanding how to empower families to address educational inequalities and improve access to higher education for their children.
Parent Power is a community-driven initiative that leverages the principles of community organising to enable parents to take a more active role in addressing systemic barriers to education. Across its chapters, parents and carers come together to share experiences, learn from one another, and advocate for change within their communities.
At the same time, the parents develop expertise around higher education and other educational pathways, ensuring they are equipped to support their families and wider community on this journey. From improving local transport links to enhancing access to higher education pathways, Parent Power is all about turning shared challenges into collective action.
Our evaluation aims to answer an important question: How can community organising methods empower parents and carers to improve educational outcomes for their children? To do this, we are using both quantitative and qualitative approaches to explore the ways parents engage with the initiative, the impact of their efforts, and the broader implications for their communities.
By gathering data and stories from Parent Power participants, we hope to uncover valuable insights about what works, where challenges remain, and how similar programmes can benefit from these findings.
One of the most exciting aspects of this evaluation is its potential to guide the development of Parent Power on a national scale. The initiative has already expanded to chapters in Abbey, Cardiff, Peterborough, Fenland, Knowsley, Bradford, Birmingham, Oldham, East Oxford, Newport, Swindon, and East London. By tailoring the programme to reflect the needs of these diverse communities, we’re building a robust model for community-based parental engagement that can be replicated across the UK.
Educational inequality is a persistent challenge, and parents and carers are uniquely positioned to influence outcomes for young people. By equipping parents with the tools, knowledge, and confidence to advocate for their children’s education, we’re not only addressing immediate barriers but also fostering long-term cultural and systemic shifts. The lessons from this evaluation will extend beyond Parent Power, offering valuable guidance for other community-based initiatives aimed at tackling social and educational disparities.
We’re excited to see what this evaluation uncovers and how it will shape the future of Parent Power. To learn more about the project and stay updated on its progress, visit our page.
Together, we’re making strides toward a more equitable educational landscape—one empowered parent at a time.