NEYDL-Annual-Rep-2023.indd

‘The hospital provided information about NEYDL. It took me a fewweeks to like reach out but I’m stoked to be able to be a part of it now.’ (Young Dad) ‘I’m so glad we came. Meeting other Mams and Dads our age is so cool. Thanks for inviting us.’ (Young Dad) 13 North East Young Lads & Dads | ANNUAL REPORT 2023 DAD2DAD PEER SUPPORT By Will Patterson & Andy Appleyard Overview: Thanks to funding from The National Lottery Community Fund, NEYDL has been able to employ 2 Peer Enablers with lived experience of either fatherhood or young fatherhood to provide direct and intensive 1:1 support and peer supported group work opportunities to young dads/expectant fathers living in the geographic areas of Tyne &Wear and Tees Valley. Building on the charity’s existing Teen Dads Project provision for young dads aged under 19, Dad2Dad Peer Support has helped NEYDL in its ambitions to reach and support more disadvantaged young men, including those who fall outside the threshold of ‘teenage fatherhood’, or who live in geographic areas of greatest need (including Middlesbrough where the highest rates of young fatherhood in our region have been recorded and no previous dedicated service provision has existed for this community). Will’s report: I’ve worked closely with 18 young dads aged 17 to 24 so far, covering areas of North and South Tyneside, Gateshead, Sunderland, and Newcastle. Whilst most of the dads I’ve worked with have needed support to address social isolation and improve their parenting skills using DigiDAD, I’ve also helped with housing issues, food banks, job searches, first aid training and family mediation. Seven of the young dads I’ve supported are involved in Child Protection and Child in Need proceedings and I’ve accompanied five dads to attend these proceedings, often advocating on their behalf to social work professionals. This has enabled one young dad to progress from having no direct contact with his child to unsupervised child contact arrangements, whilst a second has been granted supervised contact during activities hosted by NEYDL. Currently I’m also supporting one young dad to understand and navigate private family courts. Alongside 1:1 support, I’ve also created opportunities that bring young dads together to share experiences and make new friends, which can be difficult for some due to social anxiety and autism. This year I’ve organised snooker and pool activities for four young dads, museum visits for three young dads, ten pin bowling with six young dads and even a walking group. On one of the group sessions one of my dad’s brought his daughter along so it shows that he is feeling safe and comfortable. I’ve also delivered a weekly online video gaming project for young dads outside of normal working hours and supported two young dads to join our community beekeeping project. Finally, I’ve supported the Rainbow Family Centre in Washington to develop a father-inclusive service offer and father-friendly space, co-authored published sociological research in conjunction with the Following Young Fathers Further research team at The University of Lincoln https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/ epub/10.1177/13607804221090550 and contributed video evidence to the House of Lords Parliamentary Inquiry on Youth Unemployment (May 2021 ) https://fyff. co.uk/files/74825fcaf47380b5e50c5019dceb30d1103d3934.pdf Andy’s report: In creating a new service for young dads in Middlesbrough on behalf of NEYDL, I initially focused my efforts on establishing new referral pathways with Early Help Services (part of Children’s Social Services), Maternity and Midwifery Services. This has so far led to direct work with 15 young dads (aged 13 to 23), many of whom faced similar challenges to those described by Will. In addition, I have accessed NEYDL’s Wheelie Good Dads Community Cycling Project to provide a mountain bike and related safety equipment to a Middlesbrough young dad (aged 23) on long term loan and made use of NEYDL’s Crisis Fund to help young dads purchase essential goods, buy Christmas presents for their children, cover essential travel costs, rent a removal van to move house and hire a professional gas fitter to install a cooker. Recognising the importance of bringing young dads together for peer support, fitness and learning, I have worked in partnership with NHS and Local Authority services (My Place, Healthier Together Programme, Head Start, Substance Misuse and Youth Offending) to establish and run a fortnightly drop-in for seventeen young men (including seven young dads) held at the Live Well Centre in Middlesbrough from 4-6.30pm with access to pool tables, a gymnasium, video- gaming, crisis support and food bank/care parcels. In addition, I have supported one young dad (neurodiverse) and his daughter to attend fortnightly Dads and Toddlers ‘Stay and Play’ sessions at BALTIC, Gateshead and created wider social activities for four young dads including ten-pin bowling.