Well done Gareth!

Just wanted to say thankyou and well done to Gareth for leading a workshop at the training session yesterday about engaging young dads - sorry Marcus and Chris couldn't make it. Feedback from participants was very positive, here are some of their comments: 'Gareth did very well - useful to hear from a dad's point of view'; 'I particularly enjoyed meeting Gareth and hearing his views'. Most people rated the workshop as 'excellent' or 'good' so well done Gareth for overcoming your nerves! Thanks to Jackie and Gail for supporting him in Mike's absence. Will keep you all posted with other projects for dads to get involved with later in the year.

Working with Young Dads - Gareth Leading Workshops at Devizes

New dates

We've had to add/change some dates. So make a note of these:

Monday 25th February

Engaging Young Dads

Gareth, Chris and Marcus will be running a workshop with the above title at a training event in Devizes. The training event is being organised by the Wiltshire Teenage Pregnancy Team. Gail will be helping out. So will Jackie, who will be filming as well. A report will be posted next week.

Saturday 1st March

Music Technology and Digital Video Editing

These workshops will take place in the Link Centre, Swindon between 10.30am and 4.30 pm.
You will be able to take part in both of them.

You will need to sort out dates for the remaining three workshops during the day.

It's likely that the last two will have to take place in the Learning Curve offices in Chippenham because we should be able to get internet access there. Carolyn is going to check this out. The main problem will be getting in there on a Saturday.

Saturday 15th March

Film Rough Cut and Ice-Skating

Jackie is going to be hard at work over the next three weeks editing all the stuff she's filmed since November. She is hoping to get the final version of the film down to 20 minutes. Everyone who appears in the film needs to see the rough cut to check that they are happy with what they see. There will be an opportunity to change stuff you don't like, so don't miss out. Families can go ice-skating in the afternoon.

Paying for the workshops

This is getting a bit complicated. Three weeks ago we put in a bid to the Prince's Trust thro' Asha for £5000 to pay for the 5 workshops. I've now learnt that the Prince's Trust will only let us bid for £3000. This will pay for the first three workshops so we've got to find the remaining £2000 from another source for the other two workshops. Carolyn is now putting in a bid for this amount to Wiltshire Family Learning.

Jackie reckons that if you attend most of the workshops, you will be able to put a portfolio together that will let you get a Bronze level Arts Award. We need another £1500 to pay for this. We look as if we'll get this amount thro' the SureStart contact I mentioned on the blog three weeks ago. So, together with the Big Boost award and the WYPOF grant it looks as if we'll be able to finance everything we've planned, which is great news. Thank-you's will be posted when the money's in the bank!

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!