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Counselling Helpline for Male Victims of Domestic, Sexual and Coercive Behaviour on 028 7122 6530 on Weekdays 9:00 – 16:00
The Fathering Families Project is a Big Lottery funded Project aimed at supporting those who parent pre-birth to 12 year old children. Focusing on men who fulfil the role as a social father. A Social Father is a man who has a biological or non-biological responsibility for children and can include a
• Grandfather • Uncle • Brother • Cousin • or other Male Person
They fulfil this fathering role within a family unit often in the absence of a biological father.
Our Formal Partner within the project is Fermanagh Women’s Aid, who will provide bespoke support activities to mothers and children who have experienced domestic violence and who are now connected to or living with a social father. Mothers and children, through Fermanagh Women’s Aid, will be able to access elements which focus on bringing the family unit closer together.
The Fathering Families Project – A Holistic Approach
The Fathering Families [FF] Project has been developed and facilitated by Men’s Action Network [MAN] as the lead partner with collaboration from Fermanagh Women’s Aid [FWA] as a formal partner. It is funded through the Community Fund’s Supporting Families Fund which has a specific aim to support families in Northern Ireland to improve their children’s lives by building strong and nurturing relationships.
Attached is the recent report into the project and its stated aims.
Helping us in our work we would like to acknowledge the support of:
National Lottery Community Fund
A Lottery grants programme that funds small, community-based projects across the UK. Fathering Families funded for five years.
Fermanagh Women’s Aid
Formal partner in the Fathering Families project. Support activities to mothers and children living with a social father
Through the Fathering Families Project, Men’s Action Network can offer a variety of very specific services. If you have supportive and involved fathering, your child is more likely to have:
- Better outcomes, especially if living with disadvantage.
- Healthier friendships.
- Less behavioural problems.
- Less involvement in criminality and substance abuse.
- Greater educational achievement and social mobility as an adult.
- Increased capacity for empath.
- Greater self-esteem and life satisfaction.
- Higher language development at age five.
- Better outcomes in primary school.
- Lower risky behaviour in relation to drug or alcohol use, early pregnancy or anti social behaviour as a teenager.
Fathering can also be a protective factor for young children when managing the experience of supporting a partner who is going through post natal depression.
Support Services
Support Plan
We will assist each Social Father to explore their needs and develop a action plan of identifiable and targeted support.
Counselling
One to one counselling to address issues that may also impact on partners and children within a family unit such as: Addiction, Abuse, Depression, Anger, Self esteem, Loss, Poverty, Emotional Wellbeing and Lifestyle Difficulties Etc.
Advocacy
Helping you advocate with a range of support agencies such as Housing, Legal Profession, Social Services Etc.
Mediation
Mediation, if required, to help couples who may be no longer living together but who still have to share parenting responsibilities for a child or children especially were there may be a legacy from the relationship of animosity or conflict. Experienced mediators aim to assist both parties to soften the impact separation has on the child or children.
Couples Support
For both parties who agree that they would like to work together through specific relationship difficulties. Facilitated by experienced relationship counsellors.
100 Patrick Street
Old City Factory
Derry
County Londonderry,
BT48 7EL.
Charity Number: NIC 101617