Dads in Swindon

Yesterday Mike and Jackie travelled around Swindon to film more interviews with Dads and Dads-To-Be. The Dads had already decided on questions that they would like to be asked for the film, where they'd like to be filmed, and what they want to say on the DVD. Thanks to all the Dads who took part - fitting the filming into their day, before work, after work, in their college holidays, and in-between baby care!
Lots to look forward to on the DVD.....

Feedback from the Baby Massage course

Chris says " We were surprised that Cameron (14 months old) actually held still long enough to allow his legs and tummy to be massaged. We got lots of ideas we can take away from the course, especially for Saskia (10 weeks old)."

John says "I would like to thank everyone who attended. It was a new experience for me and a great opportunity to have a better skin-to-skin bonding with my son."

Baby-Massage Course Pix

Welcome Harley-Lee

Congratulations to Marcus and Charlotte. Charlotte gave birth to Harley-Lee on Thursday morning, her own birthday! How's that for timing? Harley-Lee weighed in at 7lbs 14oz. Maybe all three will be able to come to the baby massage course on Saturday.

Next Saturday

Everything's in place for the baby massage course next week. It'll be touch and go whether Marcus and Charlotte will be able to make it because Charlotte's due date is very near. Fingers crossed.

Bronze level Arts Award

Jackie reckons that if you attend most of the five workshops you could get national accreditation for your work. So I'm trying to see if anyone will fund us for this. I've been approached by the Strategic Manager for SureStart Children's Centres in Wiltshire because she has some money available so I've asked her if she would be able to fund the Award. I've also asked Asha if we could put another Prince's Trust bid in. Watch this space!

Paying for the workshops

A bid has now been written to The Prince's Trust for the 5 workshops. Marcus is the lead signatory and the bid has also been signed by Chris, John, Gareth, Steven, Den, Mark and Brett. It's in the post today and I've asked Asha to let us know the outcome of the bid as soon as possible because we want to run the first workshop on Saturday 23 Feb.

Reply to Nicola

Yes, Gareth and Marcus would like to come along and give these lovely people the benefit of their accumulated wisdom. We'll have to sort out how Gareth gets to Devizes because the nearest he can get by train is either Trowbridge or Chippenham. I'll probably pick Marcus up. His baby should have arrived by then. Charlotte has her orders!

Message from Nicola

'Hi dads! Would you like to tell health visitors, midwives and other professionals about all the great things you have been doing? We (the teenage pregnancy team) are running a training session for them on Mon 25 Feb in Devizes about working with young mums and dads. It would be fantastic if a few of you could come along and talk to small groups about Dads Matter, the film, your group, the first aid course, etc. We would need you there from 10.45 till about 1ish. We will pay you for coming, provide transport and give you lunch. If you are interested, please talk to Mike White or contact me, Nicola Balmer, on 07785 304260. Hope to see you soon!'

Kevin Lowe from the Trust for the Study of Adolescence Comments...

Kevin Lowe said...

Hi Great to see the site and looking forward to the DVD. There is a real need for it to help increase awareness amongst professionals. I work for Trust for the Study of Adolescence (TSA)a national charity based in Brighton. We have microsite all about work to support young fathers. Have a look - comments welcome. It's aimed mostly at professionals, but should be interesting to young dads too and we'd be glad to hear from you - you can post on our message board. Visit http://www.tsa.uk.com/ and click on the 'Supporting Young Fathers Network' image.
Thanks
Kevin Lowe
Co-Director, TSA
25 January 2008 17:21

(Kevin's original comments are in response to the post:
Visitors to the Dads Matter Too Blog )

Dads in Wiltshire

Mike and Jackie travelled around Wiltshire yesterday to film with Dads and a Dad-To-Be at Calne, Melksham and Salisbury. The Dads had already decided on questions that they would like to be asked for the film, where they'd like to be filmed, and what they want to say on the DVD.

There's some really interesting questions including ...

• Were you planning to start a family when your partner became pregnant?
• What was it like seeing your baby being born?
• What has it been like to be a dad? Is it what you expected?
• What has been the effet on your relationship of having a baby?
• How have... housing, money & benefits, family relationships ... affected you?
• What advice, if any, would you give a young couple starting a sexual relationship?
• How has the Young Dads course helped you?
• To what extent do you let other people's opinions affect you?
  

Gareth says

I would like to thank everyone who turned up on Saturday. It was a brilliant day of snogging infants and Annie to keep them alive!! I can honestly say the course was an excellent success and I'm very proud of us all. Mike will be receiving our certificates soon and will get them out to us as soon as he can.

I'd like to especially thank Dannie for taking time out to teach us because these are lifetime, lifesaving skills that we've learnt. The best thing about it was that it wasn't boring. In fact it was good fun and I think everyone enjoyed it. I know I did.

What I now think is that every young person should be able to do this course.

Dannie's email

I actually really enjoyed the session, pass on my thanks to everyone please.

Brett's text

Brett sent this text to my mobile yesterday evening:

Thanx 4 2day was very informative jus hope neva have 2use any of what i learned. Feel id no what 2do if the time came glad i went and april is. Put this on the blog if u can i haven't got internet at moment cheers

Says it all really. Another good day. Dannie ran a great course and was well pleased with the way that everyone got involved. He says that, as a result, everyone who attended will be awarded the course certificate which gives a 3 year first aid qualification.

At lunchtime we were visited by Asha from The Prince's Trust. She seemed to be very impressed by what we have been up to and will arrange for the release of the remaining Big Boost money. Just as well because we've already spent more than the £3000 we've already received. The WYPOF money should arrive in the next week or so, which is a bit of a relief. Asha also told us about some money which the region has available for projects. Jackie suggested that we could put a bid in for several small projects which would enhance the film, and provide opportunities for group members to develop the skills involved. These are:
1 Music Technology
2 Digital Video Editing
3 Digital Art & Design for CD/DVD covers
4 Using the web to promote and share your digital creations, work and ideas
5 Postcard Promotion

So we're going to be busy.

CPR video clip

Here's a link to the video that Dannie mentioned on the course

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ICODRFoWZkw