A GUIDE to the services and support available to parents in the Isle of Man has been launched at The Children's Centre.

This year the Isle of Man Parenting Network Handbook is also available online for the first time.

John McKenzie, the chairman of the Parenting Network and head of family and community services at The Children's Centre, said: "This is the second year of the handbook. It proved to be very successful in its first year but we wanted to add an online version for added convenience for parents.

"Information in this second edition has been reviewed to make sure it is up to date. Whether in print or online the handbook will continue to be the first point of reference for parents needing to access the range of services available to help them and their families."

Health Minister David Anderson MHK said: "The Isle of Man Parenting Network is an excellent example of the third sector working with government departments to benefit the community. The handbook, and its new online version, is an excellent way of informing parents about the wide range of services and support available to them."

The Isle of Man Parenting Network includes representatives from The Children's Centre, Departments of Education and Children, Health, Social Care and the Child and Adolescent Mental Health Service, the Mother's Union, Care For The Family and the Alcohol Advisory Services. 

Copies of the Isle of Man Parenting Network Handbook are available from The Children's Centre on Woodbourne Road, Douglas. The online version can be found by visiting www.sch.im.

Picture caption: John McKenzie, head of family and community services at The Children's Centre, Chris Corlett, chief executive officer at the Department of Social Care, Helen Parry, chair of the Isle of Man Mother's Union, Health Minister David Anderson MHK and Dave Colley, school improvement adviser.