NEYDL-Annual-Rep-2023.indd

DURHAM DADS By Andy Appleyard and Nathan Noble with Colin Cowings and Robert Oughton In September 2022, we were thrilled to receive funding from County Durham Community Foundation (NHS Health Improvement Fund) to establish a new provision for young dads and expectant fathers across County Durham under the ‘Durham Young Dads Project’ banner. Led by Andy and Nathan with support from Colin and Robert, at the time of publication we have worked with 27 young dads aged 15-25 years, helping them to address a range of support needs associated with food and fuel poverty, homelessness, NEET status, mental health and wellbeing, social isolation and loneliness, parenting and relationship skills and involvement in private family court and social care proceedings. Recognising the important part that wider family members can play in supporting young dads to navigate fatherhood, we have also worked closely with 16 adult maternal and paternal family members including 8 co-parents, 2 foster carers and 6 paternal grandparents of the child/unborn child. Despite the geographic challenges associated with bringing young dads together from across County Durham, we have managed to run a number of face-to-face and virtual peer supported group work opportunities including cinema and theatre trips, bowling sessions, Escape Room visits, cycling excursions, coffee shop trips, Paediatric First Aid training and video gaming sessions attended by 16 young dads. In addition, 10 young dads, 8 co-parents and 10 children aged under 2 have attended family activities including soft play. At the time of publication, 6 Durham young dads supported through this project have progressed into key volunteering roles within NEYDL as part of a 20 strong community of AmbassaDADS (see article AmbassaDADS Assemble!). In addition, thanks to new funding from Durham Family Hubs, we are delighted to announce that support for young dads and non-birthing people aged 25 and under will continue beyond the length of this original project, supported by Colin Cowings and Robert Oughton (see article ‘Support For Young Dads Through Family Hubs’) ‘North East Young Dads are an amazing charity who (named young dad) reached out to when he was at his lowest. (Parent of a Young Dad supported by NEYDL)) ‘I usually get pulled in at school. Last time…it was because (named daughters) decided they were going to pour paint in each other’s pants. And when I bathed them, they had bits of orange and pink and yellow…’ (Young Dad) 17 North East Young Lads & Dads | ANNUAL REPORT 2023 KEEP ON RUNNING By Jonah York Among the 60,000 people who set off from Newcastle’s Town Moor on the morning of Sunday 11th September 2022 to raise much needed funds for brilliant charities in the Northeast, were 11 runners (Amy, Kevin, Ancha, Freya, Sam & Sam (the speed demon duo), Elijah, Anna, Claire, Steph, and Jonah), all wearing distinctive sky-blue t-shirts emblazoned with the slogan ‘I’m running for North East Young Dads and Lads.’ Representing the charity’s staff, trustees, project partners, family, friends, and most impressively young Mams whose partners are supported by NEYDL, our running team (some running a half marathon for the first time) all completed the course in one piece (although judging by his newly acquired limp at work the morning after, I suspect our CEO Kevin might have something different to say). In total, our fantastic runners managed to raise a staggering £2,746.00 from their endeavours, which we quickly put to good use through the launch of a crisis fund providing much needed money direct to young dads and their families to help pay for essential food, clothing, baby care products, furnishings, transport costs and bills as we headed into winter during a cost-of-living crisis. Included on the list of much needed items and activities this fund supported were bus tickets to enable a young dad to make the daily visit to his baby in intensive care, a removal van to help a young family relocate from an unsafe private rented property and new carpets and furnishings to cover bare floorboards in an upstairs flat occupied by a young family with a toddler. We are extremely grateful to all the amazing people who gave so generously to this appeal and to our fabulous running team (some travelling from as far afield as London and Leeds) who gave their time and feet in aid of NEYDL. At the time of publication, I am pleased to report that a team of 7 runners including young dads have signed up for the 2023 race. Phew! Best wishes. Jonah.