PARENTING can be the toughest job in the world yet one you receive the least training for. However a nationwide charity is about the launch a new term of courses in Dursley and Cam to readdress the situation. Feature writer KIRSTY RAMSDEN met Debbie MacLeod, area manager Gloucestershire for Parentline Plus, to find out more.

A CATCHPHRASE for national charity Parentline Plus reads "Because instructions aren't included" - mums and dads throughout the land will be nodding in agreement.

Nationally Parentline Plus runs a helpline and website to help mums, dads and carers with issues surrounding their children.

On a regional level the charity runs courses covering subjects as varied as helping children feel good about themselves to understanding bullying.

In fact, explained Debbie MacLeod, Gloucestershire's area manager for Parentline Plus, courses are run for parents of new babies right through to coping with teenagers.

About 70 courses are being held throughout Gloucestershire this term - including one in Dursley and three in Cam.

The sessions are free and day-time courses include a crche facility.

Courses are lead by a tutor and tend to be groups of six to 12 parents.

Ms MacLeod said: "There are points we try to get over but the sessions are very relaxed and informal."

For example at the "you and your teenager" course being held at Dursley, a session will include discussion about a situation which could arise with a teenager and about ways of handling it.

Ms MacLeod added: "A lot of parents find it really useful just to be in a room with other parents who are having the same issues.

"Parents feel a huge sense of relief that they are not alone and they can learn from other parents."

She said courses stressed to parents the importance of looking after themselves and this in turn could it make it easier to look after their children.

Tutors do not want to tell parents what they are doing is wrong but maybe suggest other ways, she said.

"And," she added, "as courses go on parents report back."

The Gloucestershire branch of Parentline Plus launched a new range of courses in May, for which it received money from the European Social Fund to devise.

"At the moment we are trying to get feedback from parents," she said.

The new courses tend to be shorter - the maximum is five weeks where as previously it was 15 weeks.

"People wanted more bite-sized chunks of learning," said Ms MacLeod.

The courses attract a diverse range of people.

Those attending are of all ages, ethnic backgrounds and income brackets - "We all have the same problems," she added.

She believes about 70 per cent of those attending are women.

Grandparents and carers also attend the courses, as do single parents, and parents come as couple.

Some attend the courses who are about to enter a family as a step-parent.

Health visitors and social workers will recommend parents attend the courses, she said.

"And," she added, "some parents who haven't any problems at all come along wanting some idea of what may be ahead."

The courses are accredited with the Open College Network so, if parents want, can lead to a qualification.

Parentline Plus was launched four years ago through the merger of three existing charities.

However the courses have been running in Gloucestershire for about eight years through the Parent Network - one of the organisations which merged to form Parentline Plus.

Ms MacLeod said: "We started in a very small way just running a few courses."

There was demand for more, she added.

"We received funding to expand and put on more courses," she explained.

"We feel parents need somewhere they can get support outside the statutory services."

She cites several reasons why demand for the courses could have grown - although it would be impossible to pinpoint a particular cause.

She explained several years ago parents would go to their parents or grandparents for advice but the breakdown of the extended family - with relatives often living miles apart - has put a stop to that in some cases.

Ms MacLeod added there could be more pressure on parents, especially as the number of families where both parents worked had increased.

"Parents can be quite nervous coming along to the courses," she said.

"There is still a bit of a stigma but our organisation thinks of it as a sign of strength that they are looking at ways they can help their children."

Nationally the charity runs a freephone 24-hour helpline which is staffed by trained volunteers who are there to listen.

The free helpline number is 0808 800 2222.

The charity also has a website - www.parentlineplus.org.uk - which receives a staggering 20,000 hits a month.

Call Parentline Plus in Gloucestershire on 01453 768160 to find out more about the courses it runs in the county.