Charity Shared Parenting Scotland is offering free places on its two flagship training courses for military parents going through separation or divorce. The courses are New Ways For Families and Love, Loss and Living.
Shared Parenting Scotland’s Mark Downie, a former Royal Marine, says: “Military personnel more than anyone understand the importance of training that leads to effective decision-making under stress. Family break-up is stressful for the parents but also for the children whose lives will be changed through no fault of their own.
“The best possible outcomes for children can be achieved in having both parents actively involved in raising them.
“Our training aims to help parents focus on the importance of putting their children at the centre of their decision-making. Mature decisions will affect the children not just at the moment of separation but for years ahead into their adult lives and relationships.”
The New Ways For Families training builds insight and skills and covers:
- how to manage difficult emotions – frustration, anger, sadness;
- how to communicate better with everyone including the other parent and your children;
- how to negotiate with the other parent around parenting scheduling and other parenting issues;
- how to acknowledge the effect of family break-up on child development.
Participants have access to Shared Parenting Scotland’s experienced coaches – family lawyers, counsellors and family support professionals – to help them navigate the challenges of separation.
“I really wish I did the New Ways for Families course before we got into the court process. However, better late than never. Thanks for your help getting me on this course.” – Parent
The Love, Loss and Living course aims to help parents who have little or no contact with their children. It teaches:
- how to manage grief;
- how to acknowledge the separation and loss;
- how to take care of yourself when you are struggling.
“Love, Loss and Living is an invaluable course that helps you understand and work towards coming to terms with not having contact with your child. Getting support from others in similar situations makes you feel less alone and able to speak with people who know what you are going through.” – Parent
The free places are funded by the Veterans Foundation, Army Central Fund and the Army Benevolent Fund.
The courses usually cost between £200-£270 and are a combination of online learning with coaching support. Numbers are limited. For more details contact David Maclean dm@sharedparenting.scot or Mark Downie md@sharedparenting.scot