MAPPING MALE PARTICIPATION IN FAMILY SUPPORT & PARENTING PROGRAMMES
Project by FNF Both Parents Matter as part of the Children & Families Organisational Grant outcomes for 2013/14.
Methodology –
A Survey Monkey questionnaire with a set of 8 questions was created to capture data on the level of participation and engagement by men in family support services and parenting programmes during the period 1st April 2012 to 31st March 2013.
We asked for responses from generalist family support or parenting programme providers – excluding those who had a particular focus eg disability, domestic abuse, dads projects etc. We also asked for details of ADULT service users to avoid counting of male children in the figures. However 3 responses received were from dads projects, one was focussed entirely at children & young people and didn’t record gender of adult carers – while two had a disability focus.
A notable factor was the lack of recording of engagement by gender within some services. Several that were approached and would have liked to contribute were unable to disaggregate the data. It was subsequently confirmed by a senior official that ‘The Welsh Government does not ask for information from local authorities in relation to the engagement with fathers and other male carers for Flying Start or Families First’.
Questionnaire Distribution –
Having previously attempted to gain responses on a similar exercise within Cardiff we took the decision to target a small number of services we were already in contact with directly but rely on Children in Wales’ distribution network to reach other providers.
Responses -
To 26th March 2014 a total of 32 responses have been received. The geographical spread is as follows:
Cardiff – 6, Bridgend – 5, Denbighshire – 3, Anglesey – 2, RCT – 2, Caerphilly – 2 (*), Conwy 2, Ceredigion 2, Torfaen 2, Newport 2
Gwynedd, Carmarthenshire, Blaenau Gwent (*), Neath Port Talbot (*) – 1 each
All Wales 1, North Wales 1
(*) one...