Have you got a great idea that could transform family life in the UK? If so, the Government wants to hear from you.
A competition has been launched to find a "Big Family Idea" - something to improve family life.
The winning idea will be funded by the Big Lottery Fund to the tune of £150,000.
It's part of the first ever National Family Week – as reported on ParentDish last week.
The contest is open to anyone in the UK – whether they are experts on family policy, a child or a grandparent – someone of any age, from any walk of life, with a brilliant idea.
It could be aimed at improving family life in your street, your town or across the whole country. It could be a product, service, event, campaign or a great social idea.
The winner will get to discuss their idea with senior political figures, and the idea will be turned into reality with £150,000.
And there's the problem. You're not going to transform family life with £150,000. Well, you might be able to transform my family life with £150,000, but there wouldn't be much left for anyone else.
So if you've got any ideas for big, sweeping social changes – like giving parents properly paid maternity and paternity leave, or finding adequate funding for the thousands of children who are carers – forget it.
Smaller ideas that can give families a bit more time together are more likely to succeed.
In a survey conducted for National Family Week, over half of parents said that they did not spend enough quality time together as a family.
They wanted to be able to have more meals together, play games together more and do more educational things together.
Kevin Steele, co-founder of National Family Week, says: "In the past, innovative ideas have improved family life in many ways, from folding pushchairs and baby monitors to rubberised safety asphalt for playgrounds, home delivery of groceries and 'walking buses' that enable children to go to school on foot.
"The Big Family Idea competition will encourage ordinary people all over Britain to put on their thinking caps to come up with more brilliant ideas like these."
To enter the competition, click here. Closing date for entries is the 31st July 2009.