Universal Parenting Programme Provision in England; Barriers to Parent Engagement in the CAN parent Trial, 2012–2014

The CAN parent trial, 2012–2014, was a government initiative in four English areas designed to develop a market in universal parenting support. Fourteen parenting class providers offered classes to all parents of children aged 0–5 in the areas. In three areas, all eligible parents received £100 vouchers exchangeable for a parenting class. Pre‐trial planning was that take‐up would amount to 20 000 parents. However, only 14 per cent of these parents took advantage of the offer. This article utilises 42 interviews with providers, and two parent surveys over two time periods ( n = 1510 and n = 1603) to review barriers to engagement with universal parenting support programmes.