Teenage parents are to be given tips on increasing their assertiveness, confidence and self esteem at a series of workshops in Oxford.

Mums and dads who became parents at a young age will benefit from the advice handed out at a new project in Blackbird Leys.

The 4TP project, also known as For Teenage Parents, has invited younger parents to discuss issues which affect their lives and those of their children at the course, which starts next week.

Everybody attending the scheme will be given the opportunity to identify their skills and learn new ones, with an eye on returning to employment or education.

Danielle Annal, 22, a mother-of-one who will volunteer at the project, said: "Just because you are a young parent, it doesn't mean you are a bad parent.

"I hope we get lots of young parents turning up, and get to teach them things like not getting down when people say bad things about them."

Ms Annal, from Warburg Crescent, Blackbird Leys, was one of the driving forces behind creating the sessions, which have been funded by Connexions and Oxfordshire County Council.

The £2,000 worth of funding will see parents invited to the Blackbird Leys Youth Club for two hour sessions every Thursday until Christmas.

Ms Annal said she hoped the 4TP forum would allow parents in similar situations to support each other in the same way that a Teenage And Pregnant course at Cuddesdon Corner helped her deal with having her son.

Christine Chambers, project development worker for 4TP, said the sessions would include arts and crafts workshops and talks about sexual health.

She said young mothers were more likely to smoke and suffer post natal depression than older parents, adding: "We will help the parents identify the skills they have and develop new ones.

"For many young people having a baby in their teens can increase their desire to return to education and to achieve. They want to succeed for their children.

"We want to help young people think about what they want in the future."

Mother-of-one Ayla Scarlett, 20, from Daisy Bank, Abingdon, said: "It is somewhere to go to meet people that are the same age as you.

"Sometimes when you are walking down the street people judge you because you are a young mother — but I think you can be a good parent at any age.

"I want to be able to get better grades in my GCSE because I didn’t do that well at school. I want to give my son a better life."

To find out more about 4TP, which begins on Thursday, call 01865 772886.