Before I was elected to parliament in 1992 I was a social worker. My first job after qualifying was with Stockport Social Services working with children and families in the Adswood area.
I remember feeling very angry at the lack of support for families trying to bring up children in difficult circumstances. I stood for parliament because I believed nothing would change until there was a government that understood that without help and support to families there was little hope of breaking the inheritance of poverty.

So when I visit the Children’s Centre in Adswood it gives me a special pleasure. A brand new building with a range of services offering support and help to families in the area.

On my last visit I talked to the Parenting Team and to families who had taken the opportunity to take part in parenting classes. They were all enthusiasts saying the classes had not only given them valuable information and advice about managing their children’s behaviour. They said it had helped them be better parents.

Their children benefited and as parents they had renewed confidence in their parenting skills. They made some suggestions which I will be passing onto Ministers. They suggested classes should be offered to all parents. And I also agree that all professionals working with parents should attend classes as part of their training. It reflects the success of the classes that they think everybody should be able to benefit from the opportunity to take part!

When I was a social worker I was desperate for such services to be available in the area. And when I see the range of services now I know that I was right in standing for election to parliament.  Without the commitment of a Labour government to investing in services for families this would none of this would have happened.