Case Study: Southampton
Pickles Coppice Children's Centre
Quick links:
- Introduction
- What has been successful in engaging dads and what are the benefits?
- Does the involvement of male staff impact on dad’s engagement?
- Partnership working
- Are the dads who attend regular library users?
- What happens in the sessions?
- What has been the impact of the sessions?
- Links with Family Learning
- Key messages
Introduction
Caroline Petty is the family link librarian at Pickles Coppice Children's Centre working in a multi-disciplinary team and running the library at the centre.
One of the objectives of the centre is to engage men in all their activities and services and make the centre a place where dads feel comfortable attending.
About three years ago the centre decided to consult fathers about what they would like to see offered at the centre and how they could improve their service to dads. One of the requests was for men only activities at a time when they could attend. As a result a "Daddy Cool" group was set up 3 years ago and has continued to attract about 16 dads and their children each Saturday morning.
Supporting engagement with dads is linked to the SureStart objectives of providing services for hard to reach groups, a recognition that dads are as important to children’s lives as mothers and to respond and provide support to the changing configurations of family life. Prior to prioritising work with dads the centre was making contact with 10% of fathers and this has risen to13%. The number of attendances by fathers has risen from 3.5% to 9.8%. The “Daddy Cool” group are part of a broad strategy in the centre for engaging dads in everything they do and increasing the involvement of dads, men and boys is also part of the library service priorities.
What has been successful in engaging dads and what are the benefits?
The consultation process provided an opportunity to make direct contact with men and engage their involvement. This direct contact remains the most successful way of attracting dads to the group.
Food is also a big motivator as it creates a genuine social and relaxed focus for the start of the group. In the early days of the group there was a full cooked breakfast but over the life of the group, and as a result of budget considerations, this is now a bacon sandwich, cereals, wholemeal toast and fruit. The provision of breakfast also provides the opportunity to promote healthy eating with the dads and children.
Twice a year the group runs “open days” where men who are reluctant or apprehensive about attending can come to a session with their partners and children. This has been successful in breaking down barriers with dads and also allows their partners to experience the benefits of the group.
The dads are initially motivated to attend because they recognise it is good for their children, to spend some constructive time alone with their children and to give their partners a break. They continue to attend because they enjoy it and have fun with their children. Gradually their own and their children’s enjoyment becomes a motivator. The dads also build up supportive relationships with each other and look forward to seeing and catching up with each other. The dads are responsible for their own children at the sessions but they also show responsibility for all the children in the group, so, if one dad wants to go out for a cigarette or spend some time doing an activity the others will care for his children. In this way the children and dads are benefiting from building a broader range of social relationships and influences through involvement with the group.
It is important to make the men feel valued and welcome. Initially some of the men are apprehensive that they may be made to feel they have not got the “right” parenting style. In fact the attendance at the group reinforces the positive aspects of their involvement with their own and other children, and builds their confidence in their own abilities.
Involving the dads in the planning of the group has been one of the key features of success. The men meet three times a year to plan the programme and in most respects the group is self directed. A development worker supports the group and other professionals attend on an occasional basis to provide information or activities in an informal way. The group is open to dads and children under 5. One positive spin off has been the formation of a Saturday dads group, MAD Dads ( Mansel Active Dads) at the local school which has been set up by dads who previously attended “Daddy Cool”. The dads have also set up a football team as a result of meeting at the centre. It is important to consider supporting new dads when they feel unsure about joining the group by visiting them at home to talk about the group or arranging to meet them in advance and accompanying them into the group the first time they attend. This can often be a factor in getting them to come the first time.
Does the involvement of male staff impact on dad’s engagement?
The group was initially set up by a male development worker who has now left and the current development worker is female. This change has had no impact on the momentum of the group. As a result male staff involvement is not seen as essential but as desirable. The key feature of success is providing an environment where the men feel comfortable, valued, included in planning and promoting an inclusive and non-judgemental approach.
Partnership working
There is a multi-disciplinary team working from the centre which includes library staff, the toy library, community development workers, play specialists, oral health education staff, midwives, family support workers, family learning, speech therapists, health visitors and nursery nurses.
The centre based staff meet together every fortnight and there are less frequent meetings for all partners. There are also good communication systems through email, posters and information packs and leaflets. All of these communication activities contribute to building strong partnership working and partners understand and promote each others roles when working with families. If a parent approaches a member of staff with a problem or issue they take responsibility for helping the parent get in touch with the right person to resolve it, even if the issue it is not strictly within their remit. In this way parents receive a seamless service from the centre and all professionals involved with the centre will publicise the group and promote dads involvement in centre activities with parents.
Are the dads who attend regular library users?
About a quarter of the dads were library users before attending the group. This became apparent after a library display was held at the group showing that the library provides access to play stations, computers and DVD/video hire as well as books and other services. The majority of the dads had no idea of the range of services available from libraries. The availability of a library at the centre, the family link librarian’s attendance at the group and the outreach work with hard to reach group has dramatically increased library use in the area. Dads are regularly consulted about the adult books they would like to see in the library and their feedback is acted upon.
What happens in the sessions?
The sessions are open from 9-12 and this includes setting up and packing up time. The session starts with breakfast and there will be outdoor play, soft play, crafts and activities, messy play and storytime or rhymetime as dads pack up.
The main focus of the group is to encourage dads to engage with their children, promoting Bookstart, reading and rhymes is one part of this alongside promoting a range of other messages for parents.
What has been the impact of the sessions?
The Children’s Centre has actively promoted and encouraged the involvement of men. Men know that they are welcome and wanted in the centre and their role as parents is valued. This has resulted in some culture shift where dads’ involvement in the life of the centre is seen as the norm.
The men benefit from peer support and can seek information advice and support from the professionals who attend in a relaxed situation. Their confidence in their parenting has been raised and the self directed nature of the group has raised their confidence and skills in their abilities to organise a successful community group. The setting up of two other groups independently of the centre is considered one of the successes of the group.
The children benefit from spending time alone with their dads and from high quality play and learning opportunities.
Links with Family Learning
Family Learning courses to develop numeracy and literacy are delivered twice a year in the centre and a men only computer building course has been delivered.
Caroline delivers several courses for professionals and parents, based on encouraging early language development, or encouraging book sharing.
The Cover to Cover course is a six week course for parents and involves the parents making a book each week. The books are based on the parents own ideas and the content is their own work linked to their child’s interests. The parents may make lift-the-flap books, touchy feely books or plastic coated books for use in the bath.
The 101 ways to Share a Book course is for professionals and runs as a one day or two half-day workshop to encourages practitioners to develop more language rich environments for children.
Key Messages
- It can take a long time to engage dads so do not expect immediate success or give up if the first effort proves unsuccessful.
- Use methods to “hook” dads in such as day trips or by providing breakfast.
- Make sure there is a relaxed, supportive, non-judgemental atmosphere.
- Make sure the men are involved in the planning and organisation and the session design. This will promote involvement and make it their group.