Funding update

I spoke to my contact at WYPOF yesterday because we haven't heard whether our grant application has been successful. She told me the delay has been caused by the difficulty in getting the people together who take the decision. She says the meeting should now take place on 11th December. Watch this space.

Updated Second Saturday Schedule

SATURDAY 8TH DECEMBER
SWINDON
MEETING AT LINK CENTRE
SWIMMING @ OASIS

SATURDAY 12TH JANUARY
SWINDON
BABY FIRST AID COURSE
JOLLY ROGER

SATURDAY 9TH FEBRUARY
TROWBRIDGE
BABY MASSAGE COURSE
GREENSHOOTS NURSERY

SATURDAY 8TH MARCH
SWINDON
FILM EDITING
ICE SKATING

Visitors to the Dads Matter Too Blog

It would be great to hear comments and feedback from any visitors to this blog... how did you hear about the blog, and do you know any of the people involved? What's your interest in Dads' Matters - do you know any other good projects going on, or places we could show the finished film?
John asked if we could put a counter on the site, so I've added one to try out.

Change of programme

Gareth and John reckon that we ought to meet in Swindon again next month instead of Salisbury. This is because we overspent our budget on Saturday by more than £100. The cost of transport for the Swindon dads, plus partners and children to Salisbury, will cause an even greater overspend, so it makes financial sense to get the Wiltshire dads, plus partners and children to Swindon.
We could have more discussion about the film in the morning, with perhaps some individual interviews, have lunch and then go on to the Oasis, or have another climbing session, this time with partners.
Mike will discuss this with everyone when he meets up with them, but if you see this post and can reply, please do so and let the rest of the group know what you think.

How we've got to where we are

It's more than two years since John and Gary put the pressure on for U-Too dads to make a film about their experiences. Several of them subsequently took part in a film made by the Wiltshire Young Parents Project - with Jackie as the film maker - and then ran successful workshops at Wiltshire's Teenage Pregnancy Conference in Devizes. This encouraged them to set about raising money for their own film. John and Gareth initiated this process and, between them, submitted a bid for Big Boost Lottery funds through the Prince's Trust. After a long, drawn-out process they learned that they had been successful three months ago, but were disappointed to discover that they had been awarded only half the amount they had budgeted for. John has written a new bid, this time to the Wiltshire Young People's Opportunity Fund, and we hope to hear its outcome before the end of this month. So the film is very much a work in progress, to the extent that we are still uncertain whether we will have enough funds to see it through. So this blog is a bit of a hostage to fortune.

Not that this uncertainty has held us back. After we received our Big Boost award John and Gareth drew up a programme of activities, the first of which took place last Saturday. Eight young dads and dads-to-be from Salisbury, Warminster, Melksham, Calne and Swindon met at the Link Centre in Swindon. For several of them, this was the first time they had met, and "Who's the Daddy?" proved a successful icebreaker.

Questions included:
Who was a ballet dance in his youth?
Whose partner took her driving test, and didn't pass it, but didn't fail it either?
Which dad punched a wall, broke his hand, lost his job, and lost his dignity?
Which father shares an interest in dragons with his son?

They went on to work out what message they want the film to deliver, and the audiences they want it delivered to. The discussion was so intense that it continued outside during fag breaks, the arrival of a buffet lunch was ignored, and they had to be reminded that a session on the climbing wall was due to start.

So we've made a great start and look forward to a four month programme which includes courses in baby first aid and baby massage. Partners and children will be involved in these but the film will focus on the importance of dads, as well as mums, in the lives of their children.

So thanks to Brett, Chris, Den, Gareth, John, Marcus, Mark and Rob for a brilliant day, and let's hope that some of the guys who couldn't make it will be able to take part in the rest of the programme.

Climbing Wall Pix

Meeting Pix

Plans for the DVD.. first meeting at the Link Centre

Here's the list of ideas Mike wrote down during the meeting:

• fathers are parents too
• pregnancy is not all about sex
• we want to share our knowledge
• we want to put a point
• we've come together to make a film
• DVD aimed at the general public - anyone else?
• explanation about how U-Too started to run a dads course
• are there other courses?
• breaking down barriers
• politics
• feeling of wanting to run away
• causes conflict in families
• 'you're too young'
• got nowhere to live
• publicise available support
• parenting should be taught in college/year 11
• benefits/housing/government
• knowledge/choice/prevention
• You too logo - make a dads version

Please add comments of anything that's missed out or you want to add!

Welcome to the blog...

This is it! Dads Matter Too ("It's all your fault!") blog...
Over the next five months young dads from Swindon and Wiltshire will be making a fantastic DVD of their experiences, thoughts and concerns. This is the place to add ideas, share info, and check out how the DVD's progressing.
..watch this space!

If you want to join the blog (so you can write your own 'post' and add photos etc) or just want to leave a message, click on the 'comments' link at the end of any post, and type in your message.