Empowering Young Fathers in Middlesbrough

The Middlesbrough Young Dad’s Project is a vital initiative aimed at supporting young fathers in the community.  

The organisation was set up to address the unique challenges faced by young dads in the area as well as providing a safe space where the dads can connect, learn and grow together. 

One of the main focuses for the project is empowerment along with offering a range of services such as parenting workshops, mental health support and social activities that foster a sense of belonging.  

The project seeks to combat the challenges faced by young dads by creating new opportunities for them to meet and share experiences.  Through these group activities, participants can form friendships and support networks that can extend beyond the program.  

Paula, senior support worker at the project, said activities and one to one support was available for young dads under 25 with children under the age of two.

The activities include football, cycling, young dad drop ins, stay and play sessions, mental health awareness courses, go karting, rock climbing and family days. 

Paula said: “One to one support is tailored around each individual young dad and their needs which can include parenting support, advocacy through meetings and legal processes, as well as emotional support and referrals to other support services.” 

Paula said young dads can get involved with the project by visiting www.NEYDL.uk and filling out a referral form where the team will then get in contact.  

She added: “All activities are tailored with the young dads in mind from consultations to what is needed. The charity itself is steered by a group of young dads known as AmbassaDADS”. 

There are other resources available for young dads for those struggling with parenting or even personal issues. www.DIGIDAD.uk is an online platform created by dads for dads, which also has a range of parenting courses, podcasts and information that is free to use and available to everyone.  

Paula said: “The project helps in building community as peer activities enable the opportunity to reduce isolation in young fathers and provides a safe place young men can celebrate being a young dad.” 

This programme has helped many young dads and offered support where it was once overlooked. The Middlesbrough Young Dads Project provided support and created a community when in August 2023 young dad David found out he was going to become a young dad for the first time.  

David had been in contact with other support services but was turned away because he wasn’t in a relationship with the mother of the child. David found the support he needed through the Middlesbrough Young Dads Project, and they continue to support him along with many others in similar situations.  

Since joining David has completed 200 hours of engagement, covering different programmes including football, beekeeping, ambassaDADS, father and child focused stay and play sessions, peer support group work activities and intensive one-to-one support.  

Young dad David is currently a member of the charity’s AmbassaDADS community leaders’ program, where he shares his story and experiences to represent the charity and has had many achievements since reaching out for support.  

The Middlesbrough Young Dads project has made a massive impact on many and continues to offer support by bringing a community of individuals with similar struggles and challenges together.