BEING a parent has been described as the hardest job you'll ever do and being a single parent can be even more difficult.

A centre in Burnley has been set up to help young families and single parents cope with the stresses of bringing up children, to give them a focus, teach parenting skills and give the children and their parents a brighter future. CATHERINE SMYTH dropped in on a day at the Elm Tree Project.

A LIFELINE is how one mum described the family support centre the Elm Tree Project.

"The hardest thing you ever do is be a parent," said Sylvia Godfrey, co-ordinator of the project. "When parents are at home on their own they can feel isolated, depressed, have a lack of confidence and a lack of skills. We provide a way of releasing the pressure by sharing experiences of parenthood, having someone to talk to, providing counselling where needed and giving parents a chance to undertake different courses.

"The extended family which used to exist has often broken down and parents who don't have support from family or their partner can often feel trapped at home and although there are agencies to approach they don't know who to go to or how to get help. Here we try to be very approachable. Everyone here is responsive to the parents' needs and we don't judge people."

Hundreds of parents have been helped by the scheme, which is run by the NCH Action for Children Charity, in vacant space at Accrington Road Nursery School, Burnley. The centre, which opened two years' ago, is looking for larger premises because it is busy and has plans for even more activities.

The support service runs a wide-range of groups for mums, dads, single parents and family groups from baby massage to coping with the baby blues.

Members of the Time Out group who were making models for a nativity scene with tutor Gabrielle Priestley were full of praise for the centre.

Single mum Sharon Fawcett, 36, of Athol Street South, Burnley, has two children Amanda, 11 and Kurtis, four, who both have diabetes. She said: "I started coming here when it opened because I was stuck at home and it was awful, I felt so isolated. I had to devote my time to the children. I just don't know where I would have been had I not been able to come here. My friends worked and I had lost touch with many of them because I was at home.

"I am more positive about life now, because I had lost all my confidence with being at home on my own. If ever there is an issue that I need help with or I feel down there is always someone here to talk to."

Mother-of-three Anna Kelly has only just started at the Time Out group. The single mum from Melrose Avenue, Burnley, said: "I only wish this had been here eight years ago when I had my first child Dominic. I have been on my own for eight years and it is very lonely. I just felt totally cut off with no one to talk to . I had no family to turn to just the friends I had made in the area."

When Anna attends the centre, her nine-month-old son Ethan is looked after in the creche. She said: "The difference it has made to me coming here it I am getting out of the house, someone else is there to help look after Ethan, and I am getting to meet lots of new people. It has been a lifeline to me.

"Once I get my head together, start making new friends and Ethan starts school, I will probably look for work but I need to get my confidence boosted back up."

Dawn Butterworth has completed a first aid and computer course through the centre and is a member of the Time Out group. The mother of three from Harold Avenue, Burnley, said: "I did glass painting here and I have now taught my oldest daughter Stephanie, 10, how to do it. Before I had only ever been home with the children, but I was fed up. This allows me to get out and do something and get new skills."

The service was set up with lottery funding and has secured £400,000 for a further four years from the SRB6 challenge money.

Sylvia said: "We run a creche so that parents can have time on their own and we don't make a charge, just ask for a donation towards refreshments.

"Because we have been so successful in or nursery other groups in East Lancashire will be following our example. Everything we run is in school time so parents with older children at school are able to attend. We also run a family club on a Saturday once a month."

The centre is for parents from South West Burnley, but there is also scope to help people from other areas, and free counselling sessions are available for anyone from any area.

For more information phone01282 452405.

Picture: Elm Tree Project co-ordinator Sylvia Godfrey (left) has a friendly chat with a young mum