Dads Work | Dads Work Aberdeen Scotland | Single Dads Support Group.
Dads Work -
About Dads Work
It has been a long standing problem for agencies to engage with
fathers. Generally dads are not inclined to engage, which is a gender
issue rather than a preference. Ron Bird is in the relatively unusual
position of being a Community Learning and Development worker working
for social work. He started a dads group eight years ago and partnered a
dads group in another part of the city that was under the community
learning auspices. This partnership led to a successful multi agency
funding application being submitted to Learning Connections. For the
next 3 years 'Challenge Dad' successfully engaged with dads on a city
wide basis. When the funding finished an alternative source was found
but the criteria was too restrictive this led to the formation of an
alternative partnership now called 'Dads Work'. A cocktail of funding
and agency input supports the group. Agencies may refer for a variety of
reasons.
The Partnership with Richmondhill;
The Dad’s Work groups follows on from the success of the “Challenge
Dad” programme and has now developed as a flexible groupwork model
that responds to the identified needs of both the individual men
attending and the needs of the group. This model of groupwork involves
a multi-
to provide both practical learning experiences and the emotional and
social supports needed by the Dads attending. Many of the Dads referred
to the group have had previous life experiences which have compromised
their ability to parent. The Dads Work programme aims to build
confidence, develop parenting skills, enhance the quality of care Dads
offer their children, and help the men attending into education or
employment if this is required.
There are currently two groups running that are jointly delivered by
ACC and Richmondhill. The following gives an outline of the Cooking
Group and Parenting Groups that are currently running.
The group meets on Tuesdays between 12 and 2PM. Transport has been
provided as this was found to be a valuable means of engaging with the
men attending and demonstrated the commitment of the Group facilitators.
This can involve the facilitators regularly phoning or texting the
participants to ensure their attendance. This method of ensuring the
men attend has been found to be necessary as this is a difficult group
to engage with who also lack the confidence to attend groups without
support.
The group is now run at Tillydrone Family Centre and can accommodate a number of
men. The focus of