Connecting parents: innovative social networking site to be unveiled

A groundbreaking new online service and social networking site supporting parental relationships will be unveiled at the DCSF’s Parent Know How showcase on Wednesday 7 May 2008.

Thecoupleconnection.net is being developed by the UK’s leading relationship research organisation One Plus One, to help couples understand and work on their relationships.

Resources will include blogs and forums, to help build a strong parent community The site will also feature sophisticated social networking experiences, called ‘couple spaces’, where partners can explore each other’s issues and feelings and maintain a balance through the ups and downs of parenting.

thecoupleconnection.net will target all parents, although the specific needs of dads, and parents with disabled children will be focused on throughout the site, which will launch fully in August 2008.

thecoupleconnection.net is one of the projects funded by the DCSF’s £44million Parent Know How programme, designed to help parents access the information and support they need through modern channels.

The initiative comes on the back of research commissioned by DCSF, which showed that parents prefer to get information online. 63% of fathers said the internet was their favourite way to get help and support.

thecoupleconnection.net and other Parent Know How projects will be unveiled by the Secretary of State, Ed Balls, at a showcase event at the London Studios on 7 May.

Penny Mansfield, Director of One Plus One will be speaking on the day, outlining plans for thecoupleconnection.net and discussing the gap it fills in support for parents. She explains:

“Help for couple relationships is a crucial strand of parenting support, but is often overlooked. Research shows that when parents get on well, their children benefit, particularly in terms of the greater involvement of dads.

“While other social networking sites like Facebook, Bebo and MySpace are very much about broadcasting yourself to the world, this innovative new site will include an area where individual parents and couples can create a private space in which to develop and strengthen their relationships.”

Thecoupleconnection.net is being built upon the personal insight and everyday experiences of parents and relevant organisations. A user group has been established to feed into the structure and content of the service, which includes representatives from a range of national disability organisations and those working primarily with fathers.

You can register your interest on the website from 7th May onwards; and they will keep you informed of developments.