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Welcome to TSA’s young fathers network microsite. It has been created to help people working with young fathers. See About this Microsite for more information.

This month's promising practice new case study is:

Salford Young Fathers Project

Background

The Salford Young Fathers Project is the result of a successful partnership between the Salford Youth Service and the Salford Teenage Pregnancy Team. Running since 2005, the project offers one-to-one support to any young man aged under 25 who is a father, a partner of a mother or father of a child living in Salford, a father-to-be, or any young man acting as the father to a Salford child. The support offered covers issues such as coping with being a father, benefits, housing, relationships, education and training, and wider services for parents. In addition, the project offers activities and day trips for young fathers and their children to attend. Recently, this has included a visit to Manchester United's ground and a local farm. Tom Cole (young fathers worker) says that such activities can help to circumvent some of the barriers to engaging young men in terms of masculinity:

'...sometimes it’s hard for young men to say they need help, so responding to posters doesn’t work – but asking them if they want to come on a trip with other young men in the same situation is much easier - it provides them with a reason to be involved – a reason to be there.'

Since it began, the project has engaged with a total of 145 young fathers and fathers-to-be and is currently working with 78 young fathers (including 3 school-age fathers). Tom Cole reports that these young men are engaged through a wide variety of different agencies and organisations and benefits from close working links with maternity services. Referrals to the project are received from (amongst others) social services, the Youth Service, ante-natal services, community midwives, Youth Offending Teams, the teenage pregnancy team, schools, and Connexions. The process usually begins with the young fathers worker making contact with the referral agency/organisation and then arranging to meet up with the young father to complete a simple assessment form.

Achievements and Learning Points

• The high number of young fathers engaging with project has been a consequence of building links with local agencies and organisations, and being visible. Visiting such organisations and publicising the work by talking about the project has not only helped to strengthen relationships and lead to an increase in referrals, but has also led to invitations for the young fathers worker to deliver training around working with young fathers (e.g. local children’s centres, and on behalf of the Fatherhood Institute).
• Bringing the project to young fathers, rather than expecting young fathers to go to the project has been a key learning point. For many young men, asking for help or support can be perceived as a sign of weakness and a significant challenge or threat to popular notions of masculinity. In contrast, arranging to meet young men in the own homes (rather than inviting them to a group setting, for example) can be much less threatening, and in the case of the Salford Young Fathers Project, be a very successful strategy to engage and sustain contact with young fathers.
• Adopting a youth work methodology has been an important factor in the success of the project. Starting from the young father’s agenda and having a large degree of flexibility with no fixed working pattern for the worker, have been particularly crucial components to meeting the needs of young fathers effectively.
• The Salford Young Father Project has developed relatively quickly in a short-space of time to the point it now offers a strong and mixed package of individual provision that young fathers can engage with (including school-age fathers).

Challenges

'School-age fathers tend to be harder to engage as they are that bit younger – but it’s about being able to build a relationship with them and being honest and consistent. It takes that bit longer for them to trust you.'

Click here for two examples of the project’s one-to-one work

Contact: Tom Cole
Fathers Worker
Tel: 0161 603 6874 / 0797 196 3167
Email: tom.cole@salford.gov.uk
Fax: 0161 603 6840
Web: www.salford.gov.uk/life-events-teenage-pregnancy

The Salford Young Fathers Project is jointly funded by Salford Youth Service and Salford’s Teenage Pregnancy Team.