BACKGROUND

NEYDL started life in 2015 with a simple brief: to find out what, if anything, could be done to support young dads (aged under 25) who live, work or study in the North East of England. At the time, there was no blueprint for this work, so as experienced youth workers we went out and met young men on their terms and figured things out together.

Seven years on and NEYDL is charity in its own right, reaching over 150 young dads per year and spending on average 48 hours with each young person we meet.

BACKGROUND

NEYDL started life in 2015 with a simple brief: to find out what, if anything, could be done to support young dads (aged under 25) who live, work or study in the North East of England. At the time, there was no blueprint for this work, so as experienced youth workers we went out and met young men on their terms and figured things out together.

Several years on and NEYDL is a charity in it’s own right, reaching over 50 young men a year and spending on average over 40 hours with each young man we meet. Due to the honesty and courage shown by these young men, we now have a better understanding of the difficulties facing young men who are fathers, along with an admiration for the resilience and determination they continue to show in the face of often-extreme adversity. Counter to the excuses used by professionals who fail to work effectively with this community, young dads are not unreachable, un-teachable, disinterested or a problem that needs fixing. Sadly, we just haven’t afforded them the same opportunities to thrive – until now!

MEET THE TEAM

Andy Appleyard
Andy Appleyard
(Senior Young Dads Worker –
Middlesbrough)
Amy Bowman
Amy Bowman
(Financial Officer)
Jonny Conn
Jonny Conn
(Senior Young Dads Worker –
Gateshead and Sunderland)
Colin Cowings
Colin Cowings
(Senior Young Dads Worker –
County Durham, Northumberland
& Tyne & Wear)
Paula Davidson
Paula Davidson
(Senior Young Dads Worker –
Middlesbrough)
Tom Jamieson
Tom Jamieson
(Community Beekeeper)
Doug Laidlaw
Doug Laidlaw
(Regional Programmes Manager)
Nathan Noble
Nathan Noble
(Cycling Coordinator and Peer
Enabler)
Robert Oughton
Robert Oughton
(Senior Young Dads Worker-
County Durham)
William Patterson
William Patterson
(Young Dads Support Worker –
Tyne & Wear)
Jordan Pike
Jordan Pike
(Cycling and Beekeeping
Project Worker)
Nikki Rummer
Nikki Rummer
(Fundraiser)
Kev Stoodley
Kev Stoodley
(Founder and CEO)
Fred Suadwa
Fred Suadwa
(Minoritised Young Dads Officer)
Jonah York
Jonah York
(Birds, Bees, Bikes and Trees
Project Manager)
Andy Appleyard
Andy Appleyard
(Senior Young Dads Worker –
Middlesbrough)
Amy Bowman
Amy Bowman
(Financial Officer)
Jonny Conn
Jonny Conn
(Senior Young Dads Worker –
Gateshead and Sunderland)
Colin Cowings
Colin Cowings
(Senior Young Dads Worker –
County Durham, Northumberland
& Tyne & Wear)
Paula Davidson
Paula Davidson
(Senior Young Dads Worker –
Middlesbrough)
Tom Jamieson
Tom Jamieson
(Community Beekeeper)
Doug Laidlaw
Doug Laidlaw
(Regional Programmes Manager)
Nathan Noble
Nathan Noble
(Cycling Coordinator and Peer
Enabler)
Robert Oughton
Robert Oughton
(Senior Young Dads Worker-
County Durham)
William Patterson
William Patterson
(Young Dads Support Worker –
Tyne & Wear)
Jordan Pike
Jordan Pike
(Cycling and Beekeeping
Project Worker)
Nikki Rummer
Nikki Rummer
(Fundraiser)
Kev Stoodley
Kev Stoodley
(Founder and CEO)
Fred Suadwa
Fred Suadwa
(Minoritised Young Dads Officer)
Jonah York
Jonah York
(Birds, Bees, Bikes and Trees
Project Manager)

OUR VALUES

NEYDL is a unique youth support service that is dedicated to helping young men and young fathers to play an active and meaningful role in the lives of their children, within families and wider society. We offer a non-judgmental service that is based on mutual trust, respect and honesty. We listen and respond to the challenges facing young men and work with them on a voluntary basis to find positive and long-term solutions. We operate a ‘revolving door’ policy that enables young men to return time and again for help, assistance and friendship.

OUR OFFER

Currently funded to work with young fathers, expectant dads and non birthing partners aged 25 and under across the North East region (including Tyne and Wear, County Durham, Hartlepool and Middlesbrough) with some geographic restrictions, we work with young men alone:

  • A greater sense of self-worth, self-confidence and self-esteem.
  • Building self-reliance and resilience.
  • Reduce social isolation, build effective peer support networks and a greater sense of belonging.
  • Acquire new knowledge and skills relevant to future employability and career progression.
  • Enhance parenting practice and improve relationships.
  • Be empowered to voice their needs and wishes and be involved in important decisions that affect their future and the lives of their children.
  • Identify and overcome barriers.
  • Campaign effectively to improve service provision and practice.
  • Challenge negative perceptions of young men and boys in wider society.
  • Identify and access wider help from other services and professionals.
  • Instil a passion for life-long learning by reconnecting young men with education.
  • ‘Lead from the front’ and direct the charities work and vision.

How we work

Upon receipt of a suitable referral (from a young man or professional), we will:

  • Try to make contact with the young man within 5 working days by telephone, text message or email.
  • Arrange to meet in a safe place (this could include a coffee shop, school or college, community venue or even at home) within 10 working days.
  • Listen to and hear his story, help him to identify the help he needs and agree a way forward.
  • Commit to meeting
  • In the event that a young man decides to withdraw from the project we will inform the person who made the initial referral and then respectfully cease contact.
  • Always welcome the young man back to the project with open arms.

Restrictions

As gender is self identified, we welcome referrals from trans young men and non binary individuals who identify as fathers. This includes those who are in the role of a male care giver, for example stepparent or sibling guardian.

  • We only work with young men who want to work with us and not as a requirement or condition of another person or professional body.

  • We offer a confidential service that will not actively share young men’s private information with outside parties. However, we are required by law to work in way that protect children and families from harm. During our first appointment we will explain the limits of confidentiality and ask the young man to confirm his understanding of these conditions. If he chooses to decline our help and support at this or any other point, then we will respect his decision.

  • In order to stay in touch and track progress, we do store some basic information on a secure and password protected I.T. system. Again, we will not store this information without the young man’s prior consent.

  • Due to the high demand for support, we work strictly on a ‘first come first serve basis.’ This can sometimes lead to a delay in receiving help. If we can’t help a young man immediately we will say so.

  • As a non-crisis service that is dedicated foremost to helping young men develop effective parenting and relationship skills, confidence and expertise, we may not be able to meet the most complex and pressing difficulties facing some young men (including drug and alcohol dependency, mental illness, homelessness and debt). So if we can’t help, we are very sorry!

  • Dad 1

    YOUNG FATHER

    'I look up to him as a dad'

    '…my dad hasn’t been there but (NEYDL project worker) had, so I look up to him as a dad.'

  • Dad 2

    YOUNG FATHER

    'Me ma has seen a change'

    'Me ma has seen a change completely, me behaviour, the way I act and everything...My ma’s more laid back now since I started coming here. She gives me more responsibility...

  • Dad 1
  • Dad 2

North East Young Dads and Lads Project
c/o BALTIC Centre for Contemporary Arts
South Shore Road
Gateshead
NE8 3BA

Doug Laidlaw (Senior Project Worker)

Tel: 07990 164449

info@neydl.uk

© 2018 NEYDL
Registered in England
Charity No: 1172924
Company No: CE009920

Dedicated to helping young men play an active and meaningful role in the lives of their children

Dedicated to helping young men play an active and meaningful role in the lives of their children