Empowering parents.

Supporting parenting goals.

Being there for the parenting highs and lows.

About us

We are a Berwickshire based charity covering the Scottish Borders. We provide parenting support in a variety of ways to all parents and carers.

Mission

​Our mission statement is “the advancement of education to build healthy families”, and we do this by running courses, 1:1 support, drop-ins and workshops.

  Underpinning our approach is positive connection and  attachment.  The importance of attachment in the early years has been well established for many decades, however it is now well known that it also plays a vital role throughout childhood, into the teenage years and well beyond.  

During childhood and the teenage years, where positive connection is lacking, it is more likely to lead to poorer outcomes, however, life trajectories can be altered at any point, and the odds are significantly stacked in favour of those who experience stable, loving carers and  role models. 

We know that every parent wants the best for their child and  with the right support that is entirely possible and probable. 

 That’s why our courses always include sessions to sensitively invite parents to begin to consider how they were parented, what self-care looks like, and, in a supported setting, begin a journey of self-understanding and  healing. 

In doing so, we become more aware of what triggers us to ‘react’ rather than ‘respond’, and  what measures we can put in place to help avoid conflict, and  when conflict does happen handle those situations with skill. 

Ruptures within families are a natural part of relationships, but with the right tools, we equip parents to know how to repair ruptures and become stronger together as a result.  Through doing this, families become happier, healthier and  more resilient.

Our Story

We are a grassroots organisation which was started by Di Murry, and our Chair of our Board of Trustees, Robert Landon, in 2013 when a group of parents in the Duns area came together during their lunchbreaks at work, offering support to each other, under the name “Coming Up for Air”.

 During these sessions together, it soon became apparent that the common theme coming up were highs and lows of parenting, and the support and comfort found in the solidarity of peer connection and shared learning.

 Armed with this social network of trusty friends, the group looked for evidence based information to help and found Care for the Family whose material we still use today for our courses and 1:1 to support, and some time later Coming Up for Air, became ParentSpace. 

In 2019, funding was secured by The National Lottery Improving Lives Community Fund at which point we became a registered SCIO.

  Today, we continue to be grassroots and needs-led, running courses, one to one support, drop-ins and workshops, with an approach of peer support, positive connection, empathy and active listening. 

 

What we offer

ParentSpace Courses

Neurodivergent Parent Drop In Sessons

One to One Support Service

ParentSpace Workshops

Our funders