PARENTS on an Oxford estate can expect more support following the 'graduation' of a group of model mothers.

More than a dozen women living in and around Rose Hill have completed a certificate in Parenting in the Community.

The three-month course trained the young mothers to run their own parenting sessions to help support women in similar situations.

They were encouraged to open up and share their experiences of coping with young children in order to learn how best to support themselves and others.

In all, 16 mothers and one carer received a certificate for their efforts: A 100 per cent pass rate.

The Open College Network certificates were handed out at a ceremony in the Rose Hill community centre, in the Oval, on Tuesday.

Ginnie Herbert, senior family centre worker at Rose Hill and Littlemore childrens' centre, said: "The course was run to train parents to run groups to support other parents.

"The mums learned communication, listening and negotiating skills and about setting limits for their children.

"The second five weeks taught them facilitation skills, like how to approach a parent in the playground who speaks a different language to you.

"They had to do a presentation for 20 minutes in class and that was a huge challenge for some people. They were really nervous.

"For a lot of them it is a huge achievement, because a lot of them left school with no qualifications at all. It has been amazing.

"I'm ever so proud of them. They are phenomenal - they have achieved so much."

Another benefit of the course was that it encouraged white and non-white mothers in Rose Hill to bond and support each other, Ms Herbert said.

One woman had already started work on a parent teacher association for Rose Hill Primary School, while another was working there as a teaching assistant.

Mother-of-one Cheryl Buy, 21, from Cowley, said: "It was nerve-racking to start with because I'm young and all the other mums were slightly older.

"I've gained more confidence to go out and meet other parents and talk to them about being involved in the community.

"The course helped me become myself again rather than just a mum - it taught me to express my feelings and that I have needs rather than just being the mother of my daughter."

Ms Herbert said they had already filled all the places for the next mothering course, to be held in Blackbird Leys, Oxford, starting next Thursday.