AN innovative project to help parents with teenagers is launched in Southampton this month.

The city is just one of three areas in the country which will run the pilot Parent's Support Group scheme.

This will give parents the chance to meet and discuss problems they find raising teenagers and children aged from ten years.

Jenny Leonard, manager of the city's Youth Inclusion Programme which will run the scheme, said: "Bringing up teenagers is never easy.

"There is very little help available for parents of teenagers and most of us are left to cope as well as we can.

"Often family and friends give contradictory advice."

The free weekly meetings will give support to parents and look at common issues like drink, drugs, school and staying out late.

Mrs Leonard said: "There's no easy answer to bringing up teenagers and this will give parents a chance to share any problems.

"There will be two trained facilitators there, and they will be looking at ways of communicating better with teenagers and how to work out boundaries."

The 18-month project, which has been funded by a £7,000 Home Office grant, is for parents living in Southampton's inner city.

"There will also be speakers coming in for a range of talks on things like drugs and what to do if kids stop attending school," said Mrs Leonard.

"We are hoping there will be quite a wide variety of speakers coming in, but it depends on what the parents want really. I think this group could make life easier for the whole family." The first meeting takes place at City College, St Mary's Street, during the morning on Thursday, January 18, and is for parents living in the SO14 and SO17 postcodes areas.

An evening group will also be launched.

For more details, telephone Jeanette Wilding on 023 8038 2304, 023 8038 2300 or 023 8038 2301.