Millions in support for Föräldrakraft from the Postcode Lottery

- "The need for parental support is something we often encounter in contact with our young people in Erikshjälpen Framtidsverkstad," says Mattias Ingeson, Secretary-General of Erikshjälpen. "Through Föräldrakraft, we now finally have the resources to interact with parents as well.

Every year, the Swedish Postcode Lottery's surplus is distributed to the non-profit organisations it works with. By far the largest part of this is unearmarked money, known as basic support. But in addition to the basic support, there are the Dream Projects. A Dream Project always has a specific focus, such as one of the UN's global sustainability goals.

Want to contribute to safe families

Erikshjälpen's dream with the four-year project "Parental Power" is to contribute to safe and stable families. No matter where you live, parents should be able to support their children in the challenges they face in school and life.

A secure start lays the foundation for a lifetime, and caregivers play a crucial role in children's development and life choices. Good family relationships create better conditions for children to cope with adversity and reduce the risks of falling into exclusion, crime, destructive environments and abuse.
- "It is important to meet with other parents and exchange thoughts and ideas about family life and how to be a good parent," says a mother from a parent group in Motala.

Erikshjälpen Framtidsverkstad is currently located in Motala, Helsingborg, Linköping, Borlänge, Uppsala and Kristianstad. The work includes giving young people tools to influence and create positive change for themselves and their neighborhoods. With Föräldrakraft, interventions are also aimed at inspiring active parenting and strengthening family relationships.

- With many years of experience working for children's rights in different countries, we know that one of the best ways to help children is to support their parents," says Mattias Ingesson.

Building bridges between parents and the community

Erikshjälpen Framtidsverkstad sometimes meets parents who express a lack of confidence in their own abilities and who find it difficult to reconcile present parenting with challenges linked to finances and working conditions. Distrust of authorities can be great, so Erikshjälpen wants to act as a bridge builder to various agencies in society in addition to parent-strengthening measures. In this way, public resources and interventions can be made available to many more people.

Erikshjälpen will also develop meeting places in each location for inspiration, commitment and exchange of experience.
- "Erikshjälpen now has the opportunity to develop an existing business with new perspectives. It is important and urgent," says Anders Årbrandt, Managing Director of the Swedish Postcode Lottery.