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x‘The chat’ report and findings
Date: 19th November 2024
Category:
General principles
TheChat was commissioned to find out how parents and carers support their children when it comes to learning about friendships and relationships, growing up and puberty, being safe and issues like consent. A recent report shares the project’s findings.
TheChat was commissioned by an independent agency on behalf of several Scottish NHS bodies and Glasgow City Council. This Scotland-wide project, facilitated by TASC (Scotland), aimed to understand the role parents and carers play as primary educators, particularly in areas of sexual health and relationships.
Findings reveal that parents prioritise early and open conversations with their children to establish trust and create a foundation for meaningful discussions as they grow older. “The work needs to be put in when they’re younger so you can have open conversations, as the trust has been built,” shared one parent of a teenager.
Through surveys and interviews—or ‘chats’—with parents and carers, this report sheds light on how families aim to support children from early years into adolescence, helping them navigate friendships and romantic relationships safely and responsibly. In addition to the crucial home discussions, parents also expressed their expectations for how schools can reinforce these teachings, underlining the importance of collaboration between home and school environments.
Conducted across NHS Borders, NHS Grampian, NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde, NHS Tayside, NHS Eileanan Siar (Western Isles) and Glasgow City Council, theChat emphasises the important role of family dialogue in preparing young people to be healthy, happy, and safe in their social interactions.
An opportunity to learn more about the project findings will be available during a lunchtime webinar on Thursday, 21st November, from 12:45 to 1:00 pm. Interested parents, carers and colleagues are invited to book a spot here.