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Memorandum submitted by Families Need Fathers (FNF)

 

 

Summary

 

FNF welcome this inquiry into Sure Start Children's Centres. They are best placed to make a real difference to the development of children and to support families and parenting. It is vital that Children's Centres engage with fathers and the wider family. FNF strongly supports the expansion of services to provide relationship support.

 

1. FNF support the Children's Centres model of integrated services; however they must ensure that fathers, separated and extended families are included as they play an important role in their children's development.

 

2. FNF welcomes the expansion of Sure Start Children's Centres to cover all communities.

 

3. FNF is concerned that the effectiveness of services provided by Children's Centres is weakened by the barriers to involvement. Children Centre's must ensure better registration to include fathers and the wider family. They must offer the best blend of inclusive and targeted services for fathers and separated families. Greater involvement is crucial at sensitive points in the child's early years and more anti natal and post natal involvement of fathers (when relationships are most vulnerable) is crucial. Activities also need to be made location and time-friendly for working parents.

 

4. FNF strongly supports the expansion of services to provide relationship support (in association with third sector colleagues) to help support families at risk of break up and after separation.

 

5. FNF recognises the crucial need for sustained government funding. As in the American Head Start programme some of the best outcomes won't be immediate, but longer term.

 

6. FNF would welcome reinforced local governance including representation of more fathers and the wider family.

 

7. It is important that Children's Centres work with the third sector, that have experience and expertise at working with children, parents and families.

 

8. FNF believes it is essential to recruit more men to work in Children's Centres, because it is not natural for the carers of children to be so dominated by one gender. This is not fair to children and fails to offer caring male role models.

 

9. Separated families are amongst the most vulnerable. A quarter of children are living in separated families. It is important that resources are targeted at these children and families.

 

October 2009