EPIC v a parenting course: what’s the difference?

A huge frustration we hear from many of our parents is that when they bravely reach out for support having found themselves experiencing Child to Parent Abuse, they are promptly told to go on a parenting course.

FACT: 53% of parents who have changed their mind about contacting a professional for support did so because they felt the professional would think their child’s behaviour was their fault.

As well as worsening the guilt, upset and blame they are already likely to be feeling, this approach is sometimes the only solution they are offered by the agencies they contact.

This reinforces the misconception that CPA is down to parenting…rather than the reality that it can be influenced by a complex range of factors which differ from family to family.

FACT: 88% of parents with multiple children only have one who displays abusive behaviours.

It’s this complexity which means that a ‘one size fits all’ approach simply doesn’t work. Often, a range of options will need to be tried before the parent sees the circumstances changing in their home for the better.

And that’s why when Michelle John launched PEGS, she set out to provide a broad scope of choices for parents – including drop ins, peer support, workshops, advocacy and PEGS’ bespoke EPIC programme.

EPIC stands for Empowering Parents in Crisis and it’s about doing exactly that.

FACT: Three quarters feel blamed for their child’s behaviour.

PEGS won’t tell you what you should be doing differently, or tell you to try something you’ve already tried or know won’t work in your household.

Instead, the sessions focus on communication, on practical steps like putting together a safety plan or recording an incident log, and on building up the confidence that may have been eroded through the parent’s experience of CPA.

FACT: Almost four in ten don’t feel confident about their parenting on a daily basis.

It’s all about that crucial word of empowerment – because so many parents feel blamed, and the lack of widespread knowledge of this type of domestic abuse doesn’t help.

Currently, we have funding to run EPIC programmes in the West Mercia and Derbyshire areas – anyone living in those regions can contact us at admin@pegsupport.com for more information about the programme. Please note funding streams do change over time, so this is subject to change in the future. We provide updates across our social media regularly about where and when programmes are running. We also have a number of specialist workshops running which are accessible for parents anywhere.

All of our statistics are from the PEGS 2021 Parental Survey.

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Celebrating 5 Years of PEGS: A Milestone Moment

By PEGS Admin • April 22, 2025

On 21st March, we marked a special occasion, PEGS turned five! Reaching this milestone is something we’re incredibly proud of, and we couldn’t let it pass without celebrating the journey, the impact, and the incredible people who’ve been part of it all. To mark the occasion, we held a celebration in our office , not just to recognise five years of PEGS, but to reflect on the meaningful work that’s been achieved during that time. There was plenty of coffee, cake, and conversation, but most importantly, we shared heartfelt messages from parents about how PEGS and our team have made a difference in their lives. March was a busy month for PEGS. We’ve seen a huge increase in awareness, more media coverage, and a rapidly growing demand for our free services and workshops. We’ve now supported over 10,000 referrals , a number that speaks volumes about the need for continued awareness and action around Child to Parent Abuse (CPA). Without forgetting that during April 1st - April 9th we had over an 112% increase, which is over 220 referrals processed in 9 days. We’re incredibly honoured to have the ongoing support of the amazing organisations and individuals who’ve stood by us from the very beginning. Your partnership, encouragement, and belief in what we do has helped us grow from a small organisation into a nationally recognised voice for parental figures affected by CPA. Throughout the week, we shared some of the wonderful celebratory messages we received across our social channels, and we can’t thank you enough for your kind words and continued encouragement. As we look ahead to the future, our mission remains the same: supporting parental figures, raising awareness of CPA, and driving change in regional and national policies. From day one, that’s been our focus and none of it would have been possible without your support, your listening ears, and your shared understanding of why this work matters. From all of us at PEGS, thank you for being part of our journey. Here’s to the next five years and beyond (purple heart)