The innovative Quarriers Father's project based in Dumfries and Galloway which was shortlisted last year for a special Guardian newspaper's public service award, will present its work at the national "Working with Fathers 2005" conference in London tomorrow (5th April 2005).
Believed to be the only one of its kind, the project started when Quarriers project worker Francis McFaul working with parents of disabled children, trying to give them support and a break, realised that often fathers of disabled children feel marginalised. Frequently the main breadwinner, the men are out at work when appointments with social services or health services take place and feel as if they are not being included in the decision making about their disabled child.
The National conference will be addressed by the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, the Minister for Children, Young People and Families and a wide range of voluntary sector organizations involved in the care of children and the provision of parenting advice. These include the YMCA, NSPCC, Barnardos, Working Families, the Parenting Education and Support Forum and sponsors including BT, the Department for Education and Skills, and the Parenting Fund. The conference is open to practitioners and policy makers, local and central government. Forums will be held covering topics as diverse as Early Years, building on the social capital of fatherhood, Supporting Separated Families, Young Men/Young Fathers, Child protection and abuse prevention, African Caribbean Fathers and Domestic Violence.
Quarriers is one of Scotland's biggest charities, with 85 projects in 100 locations helping some of the most vulnerable people in society today and give them a better quality of life. With a project turnover of £35M and 1500 staff, the charity was established in the 1870s by William Quarrier.
Quarriers project worked Francis McFaul will present on the work carried out in Dumfries and Galloway covering the groups he has established with colleague Roger Davis, for fathers, step fathers and other male carers from all walks of life and from a wide geographic area across Dumfries and Galloway. The groups do not have a membership and are deliberately informal, driven by those who attend, rather than the project workers.
Roadshows have helped publicise the work and support offered. Although the first step is often the hardest all the fathers involved have found the whole experience very useful. Beyond meetings on a bi-monthly basis, they have organised family days out at outdoor centres, and other social events such as table tennis evenings with the children involved.
Francis McFaul, said:"We are delighted that Quarriers has been asked to present at this important national conference which will explore all aspects of fatherhood. It's interesting that such a small group as ours is making such a big impact. My hopes are that more groups similar to ours will spring up in other areas of the UK, as the support we are able to provide to fathers from all walks of life caring for children with disabilities is vital. The fathers I meet in Dumfries and Galloway tell me that being the father of a disabled child can be a lonely business. Our fathers group makes an opportunity to take some time out."
ENDS
This information and further details/interviews can be arranged by: Carol Anderson/Jane Smith, The Business, tel 0131 718 6022, mobile 07836 546 256.
Notes to editors: The Fathers Groups are part of Quarriers Break-a-way project in Dumfries. Break-a-way offers short breaks for disabled children in the homes of approved foster carers in the area. The project is provided by charitable organisation Quarriers for the local authority. Short break carers are assessed in an exhaustive process similar to that for fostering or adoption. The children and young people supported by Break-a-way are referred by Dumfries and Galloway Education and Community Services.
The national "Working with Fathers Conference 2005 is organized by The National Information Centre on Fatherhood and takes place on Tuesday 5th April 2005, at the Institute of Education, 20 Bedford Way, London. Further details area available at www.fathersdirect.com
