Young Fathers project

Fairbridge have received funding from the Parenting Institute to run a project targeting Young Fathers who are struggling with personal and social skills.   This is very much a first steps project. The young people will be engaged through a week long induction course called Access which offers them a variety of challenging high impact activities followed by a week of sessions aimed at improving their skills base.

The "Access Course" is delivered over a week, 2 days in and around Birmingham followed by a 3 day residential experience in North Wales. The first part encourages young people to become involved in working as part of a group using tasks and challenges. Young people then complete a residential in Wales.

Fairbridge supply all necessary equipment and food on the residential. Young people do not need to buy any clothing etc - it is recommended that they bring old clothes/trainers with them.  Staff are fully trained in using the outdoor environments and weuse the experience to bond together the young people and to encourage them to face personal challenges etc. The process also introduces "Kolb's Learning Cycle" as an ongoing method to learning; it's fun too!

Progress is reviewed both of the group and all of the individual participants throughout the course. When they return they are encouraged to review the whole experience. Young people then attend the following week which is concerned with them identifying personal goals/aspirations and breaking these into manageable steps. As part of this needs around parenting skills for example will be addressed; Roles of a father, fathers as role models, how to access support etc.

Young people can then attend the personal and social skill programmes; crafted pro-actively to meet the needs of the participants involved, and also access other organisations for example those delivering Triple P or Strengthening Families Strengthening Communities as well as other specific issue based support.

Each young person receives ongoing support with their development with key-working sessions as required. Part of this will include young people identifying issues and developing strategies to address these. These can include developing confidence and motivation, employability skill support, lifestyle issues, volunteering etc.

Attached is a flyer for the next course from 18-29 January- Please feel free to forward to your colleagues.

Please see our website for more details on how we work, at www.fairbridge.org.uk  or call 0121 773 1538 ask for Steve or Natalie for further information.