The Men's Project:
News
This page acts as a Bulletin Board for announcing up-and-coming events or requesting help or publicising a new initiative ... It is open to anyone working in this field. Please contact us to have the details of your event/request posted:
Working with Fathers Presentation Morning
Is your organisation interested in developing work with fathers? If so, then The Parenting Forum NI within Parents Advice Centre would like to invite you to a Presentation Morning which will showcase some of the learning arising from the "Kick Start 2010" project - a seven month package of training, support, networking, reflection and practical action for groups that are trying to, or wishing to, engage with fathers. The Kick Start 2010 trainees are now coming to the end of their time on the programme, and have organised an event to help others to: understand why we need increased engagement with fathers; get a sense of what Kick Start offers; hear about the practical experience of a number of trainees; meet Kick Start participants and find out about the hands-on things involved in running an activity for fathers. This FREE event will take place on Wednesday 22nd September 2010 in NICVA, 61 Duncairn Gardens, Belfast BT15 2GB. For more information and to download a Booking Form, please visit: http://www.parentsadvicecentre.org/projects/parentingforum/events.asp or contact Pauline on telephone 028 9031 0891.
Parents' Week will be officially launched with the Parenting Forum's annual conference on Monday 18th October at the Park Avenue Hotel, Belfast. This year's theme is "Knowing Families; how well do you know yours?" Speakers will focus on the diversity of and challenges facing families in the modern day to provide delegates with practical information when working with families within their own settings. If you would like to register for a place at the conference or would like further information at this stage please contact Pauline on tel 028 9031 0891 or email pauline@pachelp.org
Parents' Week, organised here in NI by the Parenting Forum, is now in its 11th year and is a chance for parenting practitioners and all those working with families to celebrate progress in supporting families. We hope you will join us in making this Parents' Week the biggest yet. Registration for Parents' Week supporters is now open. Registering couldn't be simpler - just go to www.familyandparenting.org/pw2010 and follow the instructions. Registering for Parents' Week will not only ensure that you receive a supporter's pack with a limited edition Knowing Families book, but will also give you access to event ideas and a media pack as well as other resources to help your Parents' Week be the most successful yet. If you are planning an event please tell us about it as we'd like to share this information and also help to promote it by advertising it on our website. Last year we had over 180 events across the province so we're on a mission to build on this success! Send details of your event through to Sandra on or before 8th October. You can also check the website http://www.parentsadvicecentre.org/projects/parentingforum/parentsweek.asp for a list of last year's events, which might help to inspire you!
International Men's Health Week (MHW) runs from Monday 14th June until Sunday 20th June 2010. It seeks to: heighten awareness of preventable health problems for males of all ages; support men and boys to engage in healthier lifestyle choices / activities; encourage the early detection and treatment of health difficulties in males. The theme this year will centre upon encouraging males to become more involved in physical activity, and the Men's Health Forum in Ireland is calling upon local men and boys to: "Get Up. Get Out. Get Going!" Men on the island of Ireland need more physical activity. It's as simple as that! Regular exercise reduces the risk of heart disease, Type 2 diabetes, stroke, cancer, osteoporosis and depression. It reduces stress, improves sleep, builds-up bone and muscle strength, helps to control weight and tone body shape … Physical activity is nature's free treatment for many illnesses and complaints. The Men's Health Forum in Ireland is calling upon males to begin by setting themselves simple challenges such as cycling to work, using the stairs not the lift, walking to the shop rather than taking the car, organising a 'kick-about' at lunch time, going for a swim, washing the car by hand, taking the dog for a long walk, digging-over the flower beds … Even doing a small amount of physical activity can greatly improve your health. There are a range of activities and initiatives happening throughout Ireland during this week. Please visit the Men's Health Forum in Ireland website (www.mhfi.org) to find out more detail.
Aims of the conference are to empower men to take control of their health, encourage positive lifestyle changes by getting out and getting active, achieve a happier and healthier community. The ManAlive! conference is a practical guide for men's health, looking at the implications of an increasingly sedentary population and how the private, statutory, voluntary, community and sports sectors can work together to address inactivity and associated public health issues. There will be a range of interactive sessions, fun sporting challenges plus practical taster sessions of the Ulster Cancer Foundation's PACE (physical activity and cancer engagement) programme. Date: Thursday 17th June 2010 Venue: Members Lounge, Ravenhill Rugby Grounds, 85 Ravenhill Park, Belfast, Cost: FREE of charge and places are limited. Dress for an active day! To register please contact Leonne Wheatley, Ulster Cancer Foundation by Wednesday 9th June. Tel. 028 9066 3281 or email Leonne Wheatley
Supporting fathers in a society, whose family structures are increasingly diverse, is challenging. Parents Advice Centre is hosting this seminar at 3.45pm-5.45pm on 17th June in Malone House, Belfast and again at 11.00am-1.00pm on 18th June in the City Hotel, Derry. The speaker is Professor Charlie Lewis, Professor of Family and Developmental Psychology at Lancaster University. Professor Lewis will share his extensive knowledge and expertise about fathers, their role and their impact on children, which will inform service providers who are working with fathers. The cost of the seminar is £15 per person and admission is by ticket only. For more information please contact Sheila on 028 9031 0891 or email sheila@pachelp.org
The Men’s Advisory Project (MAP) is conducting research into male victims of domestic abuse. Part of this research is a short attitudes questionnaire. They want to involve men and women from as many different backgrounds as possible across Northern Ireland, and would like volunteers to complete the survey online at: www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=gvvq26qoJ_2b3PI4I2krtDZw_3d_3d Paper copies are also available. To request these, contact Daryl Sweet on Tel: 02890 241929 or Email: daryl@mapni.co.uk
The Northern Ireland Human Rights Commission has produced a summary document of their "Bill of Rights for Northern Ireland - Advice to the Secretary of State". This can be viewed as a Portable Document Format file online at: www.mensproject.org/billrights.pdf
The Dads at Work awareness campaign is about making sure more dads are aware of their rights at work and have the confidence to speak to their employer about what would work best fro them. Dads are ancouraged to find out more detailed information on the campaign website Direct Gov
The Men's Project (Parents Advice Centre), the Work with Young Men Unit (YouthAction NI ) and Men's Action Network organised a men's health seminar titled "Nowhere Man" on Wednesday 10th September 2008 in the Long Gallery of Parliament Buildings at Stormont, Belfast. This was addressed by a range of leading British and Irish experts - drawn from the fields of research, practice, academia and policy-influencing - and provided an opportunity for participants to hear about: the context of men's health; the relationship between masculinity and health-seeking behaviour; the most recent research evidence and statistics; how men's health in Northern Ireland compares to other countries; the rationale for, and scope of, the Men's Health Strategy in the Republic of Ireland; local work to support men's health and well-being ... The speakers' PowerPoints and Briefing Papers are now available for free online downloading at: www.mensproject.org/issues/nowhereman.html
ChildLine Casenotes is a series of reports based on calls to ChildLine. “What boys talk about to ChildLine” is their latest report, and is based on detailed analysis of calls to ChildLine from April 2007 to March 2008. To view a Portable Document Format (PDF) version of this report please visit : www.mensproject.org/childlinewhatboystalkabout.pdf
Men's Health Week (MHW) ran from Monday 15th June until Sunday 21st June this year. The overall aim of MHW is to heighten awareness of preventable male health problems, and to encourage early detection and treatment of health difficulties for men and boys. The theme for this year was: "Men and Access to Services". The Men's Health Forum in Ireland marked this week on an all-island basis. For more details on what took place, please visit: www.mhfi.org
The Centre for Young Men’s Studies has carried out a series of consultations with 130 young men aged 13-16 from more than 20 areas and estates across both Catholic and Protestant communities. The purpose of this paper is to give a voice to young men’s attitudes and experience of violence, conflict and safety; to initiate discussion and debate about the needs of young men and the problems some young men cause within their communities; and make tentative suggestions about initiatives and interventions that would increase safety and reduce violence and conflict within communities. The report is available online at: www.mensproject.org/resources/stuckinthemiddle.pdf For more information, contact Donna on Tel: 02837 511624 or Email: donna@youthaction.org
Following on from the success of their anti-suicide play “A Far Cry”, Forever Fathers has produced an anti-suicide DVD which is based upon the issues faced by non-resident fathers and the positive use of Applied Suicide Intervention Systems Techniques (ASIST). If you are interested in obtaining a free copy of the DVD, please email: foreverfathers@donegal.net
The Men's Project has collated two fact sheets to provide answers to some of the key questions about "Paternity Leave and Pay" and "Parental Responsibility and Unmarried Fathers". Both of these outline the situation in Northern Ireland, and are available online at: www.mensproject.org/resources
Last year, The Men's Project within Parents Advice Centre received funding from the Parenting Education and Support element of The Children and Young People's Funding Package (DHSSPS) to produce a ground-breaking mini-manual for all fathers in Northern Ireland who are expecting a baby or have just had a baby. This booklet - "Men and Babies" - seeks to help fathers to fully understand what is happening during the pregnancy period and immediately after the birth, and to recognise the important role that they play in their children's lives. It provides step-by-step instructions and advice on all the practical things a father-to-be or new father needs to know - including where to access sources of help.The "Men and Babies" mini-manual is a shortened version of the highly acclaimed "Haynes Baby Manual", written by local man Dr Ian Banks. Ian has, over the past decade, pioneered a range of male-friendly publications. These use the distinctive format of Haynes Car Repair Manuals - which are very familiar to men - to engage them in addressing key health and family issues. The "Baby Manual" is one title in this series.
25,000 copies of the 'Men and Babies' booklet were distributed, free of charge, through most Hospital Maternity Units, Parents Advice Centre branch offices, Sure Starts, Home-Starts, Lifestart Foundation, local pharmacies, and other family support projects. Progressive family-friendly workplaces, including Bombardier Aerospace and Singularity Business Process Management Software, also made copies available to their employees. Please visit www.mensproject.org/resources/menandbabies.html to download a free copy of this publication.
To celebrate Father’s Day 2008, Trisha McQueen from The Men’s Project got her creative juices flowing and bought crayons to make stick drawings for a new storybook for dads and kids. "My Dad is the Bestest Dad" is about how dads are seen as being the best at everything through the eyes of their child. You can download this storybook for FREE at www.mensproject.org/resources The "Our Big Adventure" Scrapbook is also still available for downloading on The Men’s Project website (same address).
The Rainbow Project and Cara Friend have produced a guide for parents who have lesbian, gay or bisexual children. This publication is called: “Family Ties”. Please visit: www.parentsadvicecentre.org/usefullinks/documents/familyties.pdf to view a PDF version of it.
Men Alone in No-Man’s Land (MAIN), a community-based men’s group, conducted a study into urban male isolation in Dublin’s Inner City. The purpose of the study was to identify practical ways of reaching men who are suffering from various forms of isolation and social exclusion. Visit: www.main.ie/pdf/owngoalsandpenalties.pdf to view a PDF version of the report.
[Copies of the photos are now posted on this web site].
