The Men's Project:
Background

On June 14th 1995 a conference entitled "Men In The Family" was held in Cultra Manor, Holywood, Co. Down. This event was organised by an inter-agency body coordinated by the Parents Advice Centre and attracted 130 participants from Northern Ireland and beyond.

Participants were invited to consider the changing role of fathers and, more generally, men's role in society. Due to the very positive response to this venture, the organising group decided to continue meeting and to consider ways in which the debate about men's issues in the North of Ireland could be expanded.

The organising group recognised that the needs of men - and practical projects which work on men's issues - are, still, mostly uncharted territory in our local situation. What is certain is that many men are not, necessarily, coping well with modern life. Nor, indeed, do they have access to advice, support, training, education, personal development or funding networks.

The Men's Project was established to begin to address these needs. In September 1998, Colin Fowler was appointed as the Development Worker.