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The Parent Advocacy Network (PAN), originally developed in Neath Port Talbot, offers parents going through social services child protection processes a safe, supportive space where their voices are heard and valued. Working across Neath Port Talbot and Swansea, the scheme helps parents navigate the system, feel able to engage with professionals, and share their lived experiences.

A key feature of the scheme is the successful Parent Cafés – informal, welcoming sessions where parents can connect with others who have faced similar experiences, share advice, and speak openly about working with services. Supported by professionals, the cafés provide practical guidance, helping parents feel less isolated and more confident.

Research shows parental advocacy reduces the number of children entering care, improves relationships between parents and social workers, and gives parents greater confidence in engaging with services.

To grow the programme’s sustainability and widen its reach, PAN registered as a Community Interest Company with the support of Neath Port Talbot Council’s Children’s Services team. PAN Cymru was officially launched on Thursday 29 January at Margam Orangery, bringing together senior leaders, Welsh Government officials, advocates, and parents with lived experience.

At the event, the Minister for Children and Social Care, Dawn Bowden, announced £808,408 of Welsh Government investment for advocacy provision, including £133,600 specifically to expand the popular Parent Cafés across Wales.
This funding will enable PAN Cymru to extend its services nationally, ensuring more families have access to parent-led support that has proven so effective in Neath Port Talbot.

Cllr Sian Harris, Neath Port Talbot Council’s Cabinet Member for Children & Families, said: “The Parent Advocacy Network is an example of how peer support can transform outcomes for families. Schemes like the Parent Cafés ensure parents feel genuinely listened to, helps build confidence, trust, and stronger relationships with services. Our key priority is always to give children and young people the best possible start in life, and that is made possible when we support families who need a little extra help. I’m incredibly proud that a programme started here in Neath Port Talbot is now being expanded across Wales.”

Gaia Davies, Director and Co-chair of the board for PAN Cymru said at the conference: “This is what co production really means. It’s not parents being consulted at the edges - it’s parents shaping services, holding leadership roles, and being trusted with responsibility.

“We have already seen this happening in PAN Cymru. The ten year strategy is about making sure that this isn’t luck or postcode based — but something every family in Wales can access”.