Engaging and working effectively with fathers and other men who affect the wellbeing of children and families is now firmly emphasised in policy frameworks as a strategic requirement for all children’s services, and yet working with men often poses real challenges for professionals.

Fathers Direct and Community Care are jointly holding a one-day conference in London on 16 October, to examine the challenges and opportunities of working with and engaging men and to highlight examples of good practice. The event will look at important issues such as engaging young fathers, engaging black and minority ethnic men, engaging difficult men and working effectively and safely with men.

The conference will be a great opportunity for social workers and other social care professionals, including Children’s Centre workers, to hear about innovative projects that are successfully engaging and working with men. They will share the secrets to their success, identify the challenges they faced and how they overcame them, and highlight how their work has directly improved the wellbeing of the children in their care. 

Speakers at the conference will include

• Tim Loughton MP, Shadow Minister for Children
• Adrienne Burgess, Research Manager, Fathers Direct
• Steve Male and John Street from Dads Do It Too
• Chris Muwanguzi from the boys2MEN Coram Project
• John May, Specialist Learning Mentor for Teenage Fatherhood and Jenny Midwinter, Sexual Health Initiatives Coordinator, Education Leeds
• Carole Dawson from Ferryhill and Chilton Sure Start and Roger Olley, Head of Service, Fatherwork Children North East.

For more details call 0207 347 3575 or visit the conference website.