Why?
It was recognized that many care leavers who became parents needed some additional support and may be unable to access this through community groups. Ohana looks to provide the opportunities for young parents to meet up and to be supported.
What?
Ohana (the Hawaiian word for ‘family’) meets every 2 weeks at a local play café. The sessions are an informal and relaxed opportunity for young parents to chat, and for their children to play together.
- The volunteers who support the sessions can provide advice and support both emotional and practical support on a range of issues such as cooking, planning shopping and help with completing forms etc.
- Young people have described Ohana as welcoming and value its non judgmental approach.
Impact
The young parents who attend feel its helped them become more confident, be helped with practical problems they face, and for their children to have a safe place to play.