On 20th February 2023 the FYFF team and the North East Young Dads and Lads (NEDYL) launched the ‘Think Dad!’ Toolkit, co-created with young fathers and developed with professionals and services in mind who want to improve how they work with young fathers (aged 25 and under).
This interactive toolkit contains resources, activities, and advice about how you might employ father-inclusive approaches to practice that will benefit mums and children, as well as dads. Foregrounding the voices and experiences of young fathers, the resource also provides guidance for improved support for fathers more generally.
This toolkit was developed by North East Young Dads and Lads with support from the Following Young Fathers Further research team at the University of Lincoln. The co-creation team included young fathers and peer researchers Robert Oughton and Jordan Richardson of the North East Young Dads and Lads, both of whom who are committed to improving the parenting and support experiences of young men who become a parent at an early age.
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. Two Funded by the UKRI Future Leaders Fellowship scheme, ‘Following Young Fathers Further’ (FYFF) is a four-year qualitative longitudinal study at the University of Lincoln, exploring the parenting trajectories and support needs of young fathers (aged 25 and under).
We were all bowled over by the response to the online webinar, which saw 160+ attendees joining us to learn more about the toolkit and to discuss father-inclusive practice. If you weren’t able to attend the webinar, you can watch the recording here:
