WWM - Work update 1st October 2007

Current funded projects

Amberley Youth Project – we have taken over the management of this run-down youth club and will turn it around to deliver both mainstream provision and add the specialist work we usual offer. This is a three year project, and as well as funding from Westminster we have the support of a John Lyon Trust.

Church Street – we are a year into an outreach project with a group of 30-40 white and mixed heritage young men in the Church Street area of Westminster. We have a part-time development worker in post.

Expectant fathers programme – funded by the Parenting Fund, we are developing expectant fathers courses in Croydon, Greenwich and Southwark. We are currently developing a DVD, booklet and website to support this project and setting up meetings with midwives to help us recruit for the courses. We have recently trained 38 people to deliver courses.

Fathers and Schools – we have been commissioned to develop a one year pilot in three Westminster primary schools targeting fathers and appointed a part-time worker.

Gipsy Hill Fathers – our worker has recently left and we are not sure at this time how this will continue. The work is with Gipsy Hill Sure Start targeting and engaging fathers, offering support, advice and groups.

The ID Project – funded by City Parochial Foundation, this is a project based in Thamesmead Estate (South London) looking to reduce racial violence.

Lambeth Children’s Fund – we are delivering sex and relationship programmes in Lambeth primary schools, this is the second of two years. We are targeting year’s 5 and 6 pupils and will be looking at what is appropriate to deliver at this time and whether specific pupils may need targeting with a more detailed programme.

Queens Park Sure Start – We are continuing to develop work with fathers in the area. This work has been extended to cover Harrow Road and Maida Vale with our development worker now working 28 hours with the help of a part time support worker.

Transition Project – programme targeted at 14-18 refugee and asylum seeking young men with a focus on language and social aspects of life.

Young Fathers Harrow – this work (funded by the youth service) concentrates on the YOT and leaving car services and involve 1to1 advice services, and group work opportunities for young fathers.

Young Fathers Lewisham – this is a full time worker post funded through Teenage Pregnancy which continues to develop very well. We have recently appointed a part time worker seconded from the youth service and have a 3 day a week student placement for the next two years.

UNCUT Project – this is a reducing knife crime project which is part of the ‘fear and fashion’ initiative funded by five of the largest charitable trusts in London. We are working closely with Paddington Development Trust in the North Westminster area for the next 3-5 years.

Raising Boys – we have developed a short course targeted at single mother with sons and have been trialing and developing this programme before we look to roll it out. We have recently received a grant to develop this programme over the next two years.

Baby Father Accused - we have designed a local campaign and services targeting those young men who are “accused of being a baby father”. This will be a contraception campaign, with materials and mediation services being developed and reasonably priced DNA testing. To be launched in October 2007.

Resources in development

Coping With Emotions Pack – this pack will include a DVD and a series of materials for workers to use with young men on managing their emotions. This is currently in development and expected to be available by spring of 2008.

Expectant and new fathers DVD – as part of our Parenting Fund work we are producing a DVD targeting new fathers, which will be available in November 2007.

Fathers booklet – again as part of our Parenting Fund work we have produced a booklet targeted at expectant and new fathers, which is now available.

Male Refugee and Asylum Seekers Sexual Health Pack – this pack consists of more visually-based materials is now available.

Raising Boys – as part of our Raising Boys initiative (see above) we are producing a booklet targeting parents who are concerned about their sons (parents with children 0-16). This is now available.

WWM – E NEWS – we are still in the process of developing a bi-monthly e-newsletter to be distributed to those who sign up, via our website, to the WWM mailing list and to those on our contacts database. The e-newsletter will comprise of WWM’s news and announcements, as well as giving space and opportunity for recipients of this newsletter to share their news and announcements. It will also include a ‘special feature/talking point article’ in each addition. This e-newsletter will replace the Networker and Wym.

Young Fathers Booklet – we were commissioned by 5 Teenage Pregnancy areas, to develop and write a booklet aimed at young fathers. This has now been updated and available to those working with young fathers.

Young Fathers Posters – we have produced a set of four posters reflecting positive images of young fathers, which are now available.

Young Men and Sexual Health – we have just started on a new booklet targeting boys and young men and their sexual health. This will available in January 2008.

Projects in development

Diet, Exercise and Sleep project (DES) – this has involved working with children (and parents), where we offered exercise sessions twice a week, provided classroom activities on food, diet and sleep. Funded by the local Healthier Schools programme, we are looking to disseminate the findings and looking for a grant to roll this programme out further.

Young fathers initiative – is a campaign tacking issues related to young fatherhood. We are currently looking at the benefit, employment and housing systems as they impact on young fathers and ways that we might prevent young men become fathers (and in turn of course young mothers) too early.

Beyond Retail – we are developing a programme targeting Bengali young men in school, which will focus on their employment and achievement aspirations.

Evaluations, Research and assessment work

Boys and their use of sexual health services – we have been commissioned by Brook to carry out research into young men’s use of sexual health services. This is funded by Durex and is expected to support the development of services targeting boys and young men.

Old Warren Partnership (Northern Ireland) – we will be carrying out the second interim evaluation of their leadership programme for young men later this year.

Under 5 boys

Youth Action NI – we have recently completed the evaluation of YouthAction’s young men and violence programme and have been commissioned to evaluate the programme over the next two years.

Upcoming training

October        Training Trainers, Boys and Young Men, Southwark    TL

November     Boys and Young Men, Reading                                  TL

                   Working with Fathers                                               TL

December     Targeting and Engaging Young Fathers                     TL

Working With Men, Unit K401, Tower Bridge Business Complex, 100 Clements Road, London SE16 4DG. 0207 394 9333. www.workingwithmen.org

Last updated 04.10.07