Cyrenians’ Scottish Centre for Conflict Resolution (SCCR) has launched a new online resource, aimed at supporting parents and carers to manage and reduce family conflict.
The new Learning Zone for Parents and Carers is now live on the SCCR website (linked for your convenience) and aims to provide practical, accessible advice designed to help families navigate tensions at home. It offers guidance on coping strategies to stay calm, practical ways to reconnect, and understanding adolescent changes. The resource includes exercises, videos, and audio from parents sharing real experiences and solutions which worked for them.
The initiative comes in response to statistics showing that the breakdown of family relationships results in approximately 5,000 young people in Scotland becoming homeless each year, either rough sleeping or sofa surfing. Jim Gray, Service Manager at SCCR, said:
“We know that conflict is part of every family’s life. But when conflict escalates and relationships break down, it can have devastating consequences. Our new Learning Zone gives parents and carers the understanding and tools they need to manage conflict more positively – potentially preventing young people from leaving home without a safe place to go.”
The Learning Zone is divided into 3 key sections:
- Teenage Brain and Development: This section aims to help parents understand the changes happening in the adolescent brain, shedding light on why conflict can arise more frequently during this stage of life.
- Wellbeing and Coping for Parents and Carers: Recognising that adults must be in a stable emotional place to model healthy behaviour, this section offers strategies for self-care, such as mindfulness, breathing exercises, and “stress buckets”.
- Family Conflict and Management: Acknowledging that conflict is inevitable, this section provides practical approaches for handling disagreements constructively, emphasising that not all conflict is bad, but poorly managed conflict can lead to lasting harm.
The Learning Zone for Parents and Carers follows Learning Zones developed on SCCR’s website for Young People and for Professionals who work with families in crisis. The SCCR’s various Learning Zones are part of SCCR’s ongoing mission to address the root causes of youth homelessness in Scotland. By supporting families before crisis hits, the organisation aims to reduce the number of young people who feel as if they must leave home.
For further information, please visit the Scottish Centre for Conflict Resolution website where the Learning Zone is available through a dedicated webpage (both linked for your convenience).
For further information, contact Colin Waters, Digital Media and Content Manager, by phone: 07807948825, email: colin.waters@cyrenians.scot
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