30 years of helping local parents

• Founded in Sheffield in 1978 as a telephone helpline by a group of parents on the initiative of Llyn Wilson.
• We voted in 1989 to join the national organisation of Parentline. In April 2000 however, we chose to opt out and revert to our original name, as staying in Parentline would have forced us to lose our independence.
• Our first Parenting Course ran on 4th November 1997 in association with Sheffield MIND.
• In the beginning of Parent Lifeline volunteers ran an almost 24-hour helpline.
• It was decided in late 1979 to employ a paid part-time co-ordinator and a second one was appointed a year later. This covers 20 hours per week.
• In 1981 a volunteer took a child into her own home for the night to give the mother a break, unthinkable nowadays.
• It was quite common for volunteers to visit callers in their homes, often responding immediately, and then sometimes visiting them every week (142 home visits in 1980-81).
• The overnight duty continued until April 2000 when we reluctantly decided to end the duty at 11.30pm.
• Our aim is to act as a safety valve for those parents who feel that their situation might be getting beyond them.
• To offer support to anyparent or carer whatever their problem might be. To foster public awareness of the emotional and physical difficulties in the raising of children.
• We now offer a telephone listening service 9am – 1pm (excluding bank holidays) 7.30pm – 11.30pm every night (including bank holidays).
• Appointments to talk to one of our volunteers in the office.
• Courses, which aim to make parenting more enjoyable (joint venture with Sheffield MIND).
• Talks to local groups.
• We are always looking for parents to volunteer on our helpline.