Chris and Laura contacted the Gazette & Herald just before Christmas to see if the newspaper would be interested in a story about them and the Community Impact Award. And here's the result - with Cameron admiring the trophy but Saskia more interested in the photographer. The following week the newspaper published a letter from a reader expressing her dismay that the paper "gave such prominence to the, apparently, unmarried teenagers who ... decided to have a child and then another."

The letter continued in a similar vein and serves as a reminder of the strong feelings about teenage pregnancy held by, not only the reader, but probably by many more people as well. It also serves as a reminder that, if you stick your head above the parapet, someone might try to whack it. I reckon the risk is worth it. So, well done Chris.

The missing twosome

Chris and Marcus couldn't attend the Celebrate Success event in Bristol last month. Chris was unable to get time off from his college course and Marcus failed to persuade his boss to give him time off work, mainly because he needed to take time off for Harley's operation the following week. The op was successful - big relief. So here are pictures of both proud dads with the Trophy, Chris with Mckenzie and Marcus with Harley.

Our friends like the calendar!

Here's some feedback:

"Thank you so much for the amazing calendar you have produced - I feel so honoured to be a recipient."

"Thank you very much for the wonderful Dads Matter Too calendar. It is taking pride of place."

"Thank you .... so much for the calendar - it's really inspiring. We will put it up in the office so all our visitors will be able to see it too!"

"I was so impressed with the images on the Dads Matter Too calendar - I just wish you guys did a leaflet too!"

"I've just seen the 2009 Dads Matter Too Calendar, and I just wanted to let you know I think it's beautiful."

"... thank you so much for the 'Dads Matter Too' calendar which I think is absolutely brilliant ... I think everything about it is really excellent, photos, quotes, quality of print, format - wow!"

"... a tribute to the young dads involved in its production. These guys are so aware and keen to establish lasting and strong relationships with their children – a wake up call to all of us showing just what these dads can do given the right opportunities and support ..."

And I know someone who decided they wanted to display all the pictures at the same time so the calendar is no more but they now have a rogues gallery of young dads on their office wall.

Photo in new Arts Award booklet

This picture of Marcus was taken by Lisa during the trip to see street art at Tate Modern in the summer. Here 's the photo as used in the new version of the Arts Award silver booklet for young people...

9 Dads and Mums achieved bronze awards in the summer ( go to blog archive to see posts and pictures from the visit and the award).

Travel for the trip was funded by the Arts Award Access fund, and this is one of the photos sent in with the funding report. Bayford Arts is the name of Jackie's Arts Award centre, through which we took part.

Nice to see Lisa's photo inspiring lots of other young people around the country working towards their awards!

Find out more about the Arts Award at http://www.artsaward.org.uk/

'Behind the Scenes' of the news interview

More from the Celebrate Success evening, 'behind the scenes' the Dads being interviewed for ITV news.

Getting Seen

The DVD trailer, on YouTube and on the blog, has been seen over 200 times, including 9 times from USA and 2 times from Canada.

'Google Analytics' reckons the blog has been seen by over 516 different people, mainly from the UK but also from USA, Netherlands, Norway, Belgium and Spain. The average time people look at the blog is 3 minutes - so hopefully they're finding it interesting! It seems so, as 686 more visits are by returning visitors. There's a steady, growing stream of new people visiting the blog each week.

The counter on the blog, added a month or so after it started, shows 3611 today - that's the number of times pages from the blog have been looked at!

About half the blog's visitors come direct, others come through links from websites including fatherhoodinstitute.net, youngfather.net, jackiecalderwood.com, sparksite.co.uk and bbc.co.uk.

Whilst I've got my 'numbers' head on, the Dads Matter Too myspace has had 73 views, and the music tracks have been played 35 times!

A Few More Photos...

Celebrating Success!

Here are, reading from left to right, Mark, Steven, Rob, Brett, Gareth, John, Den, Karl and Chris at the Bristol Marriott last Wednesday night. Smart, or what! Looking proud and happy. You bet! And every right to be so. They had just won the Award they'd been shortlisted for. It was just a pity that Marcus couldn't get time off work and Chris couldn't get time off from his college course to be there and join in the celebrations. Den met Theone, another Award winner, who was so impressed with Den's lyrics that he offered to record him. So who knows where this will lead. A great evening.

Video: Community Impact Award Winners...

Celebrating Success on ITV News

Dads Matter Too won the Prince's Trust SW Community Impact Award - presented at the Celebrate Success reception in the Marriott Hotel, Bristol last night. Fantastic!
The Dads were filmed receiving the award and interviewed afterwards for ITV news, broadcast thisevening.

Watch the news item on the link below (let the 30 seconds advert finish playing, then watch or forward the news - Celebrate Success and Dads Matter Too starts at 14:35):
http://www.itvlocal.com/west/news/?player=WST_News_15&void=260481

More photos and video of the evening to follow...





Screenshots from news item at http://www.itvlocal.com/west/news/ on 20th November 2008

In the News with Swindon Artsmad

We're in the news again - in the winter 08-09 newsletter from Artsmad.

You can download the newsletter from:
http://www.artsmad.org.uk/

Calendar - Second Print Run

Jackie's just completed the artwork for a second print run of the calendar, with revisions.

here are the new look front cover and back label:

 

Getting ready for Bristol

Steven, Den, Brett and Mike were interviewed today in Swindon Foyer for a short film which will be shown at the Celebrate Success evening in Bristol next month. Marcus has just started a new job and can't get time off work because he already needs to take four days leave the following week when Harvey goes for his operation - at last. So he won't be able to go. Great shame, because he was the lead applicant for The Prince's Trust grant for the film workshops.

YouTube clip

The clip that Jackie put on YouTube has now had over 100 views. It's a start! A couple of positive posts have been left:

"You've arrived - on YouTube. Great stuff. I hope you realise how much impact your DVD has and will have for young dads in the country. Well done and thanks a million."

"Nice DVD lads well put together, tune's nice too. Good to see something about dads for a change."

Another milestone

Over 200 copies of the DVD have now been sent out. John has 'sold' 7 so he's winning!