Raising Aspirations in Sunderland

Charlie Thompson

Young Fathers Worker B2b+ Project

Local Picture in Sunderland

• There are currently 71,534 children and young people 0-19 years living in Sunderland

• Current teenage pregnancy rate is 51.3 per 1000

female population. Drop of 18.7% since 1998

• B2b+ is currently working with 272 young parents this includes Parenting Groups, Education, One-to-One, Dads Group and Y-Not?

Why do teenagers become pregnant?

Teenage pregnancy is often a cause and consequence of social exclusion. The risk of teenage parenthood is greatest for young people who have grown up in poverty and disadvantage, or those with poor educational attainment. Overall teenage parenthood is more common in areas of deprivation and poverty.

Why do teenagers need extra support?

Teenage parents tend to have poor ante-natal health, lower birth rate babies and higher infant mortality rates. Their own health and their children’s is worse than average. Teenage parents tend to remain poor and are disproportionately likely to suffer significant relationship breakdown.

Initial B2b+ Objectives

To improve support for teenage parents particularly teenage mothers

To reduce the teenage pregnancy rate in Sunderland, particularly around second or subsequent pregnancies

To address parenting and welfare issues

Revised B2b+ Objectives

Improve the learning of teenage mothers, fathers and their children

Improve the health of teenage mothers, fathers and their children

Strengthening families and communities, particularly in relation to the involvement of fathers

Improve the social and emotional well being of teenage mothers, fathers and their children

Every Child Matters – Be Healthy

• A specialist Health Visitor for teenage parents 4 days per week

• Sexual Health advice, condom outlet• Emotional Literacy Groups for mums and

dads (Family Nurturing)• Sports activities, including anger

management through Mu Tai• Support offered around substance misuse

Every Child Matters-Staying Safe

• Domestic Violence courses for mums and dads

• Masculinity and Identity groups• Anti-bullying day, anti-bullying policy

written by young people• Wide range of parenting courses• Child Development courses for mums

and dads

Every Child Matters-Positive Contribution

• Young parents committee• Consultation with young parents for other

strategies City Wide• Y-Not? Project• Staff all trained to offer a Men Friendly Project• Young fathers group• Range of groups/activities for mums, dads

and children (Play with a Purpose)

Every Child Matters-Enjoying and Achieving

• High quality nursery provision• Young Mums Unit• Test the City, Numeracy, Literacy and IT

groups• Connexions access point• Access to wide range of self-esteem and

confidence building activities • Connect Programmes for Mums and Dads

Every Child Matters-Economic Well Being

• Wide range of innovative courses and activities on offer

• 1-1 support to enable young parents to attend college interviews, job opportunities

• All young parents offered a support package that meets their multiple and diverse needs.

• Courses and groups designed to encourage young people to develop independent living skills

Achievements to date

• Daddy Trap CD written and produced by young dads

• DVD’s written, produced and starring young people from Project

• Poetry book of young peoples experiences• Young Achievers Award winner and runner

up in arts category• Internal SSD Quality Award

Achievements to date

• Young people speaking at conferences• External awards success• “Kickstart” programme for dads up to age of

25 years• “Groundworks” programme for dads up to age

of 19 years• Residential Programmes arranged• Plans to be able to offer a wider range of

accredited courses and opportunities

Remember!

“ONE SIZE DOES NOT FIT ALL”