Location
Years
2021 – 2024
Activity
We first engaged in depth with dads (and other men in a father role) in neighbourhoods in Salford (Little Hulton and Winton) and in Rochdale Borough (Langley). Using a ‘positive deviance’ approach. we focussed on ‘what’s strong, not what’s wrong’, and drew on the strengths, assets and hidden wisdom of communities. This exploratory work found new ways and activities to improve the well-being of disadvantaged fathers and to understand whether or not this improved the well-being of their children.
We later did small experiments in maternity services, family hubs and community nurseries in Greater Manchester to test our theory of change. From this, we developed a narrative and resources on positive fatherhood, outlined an approach for recruitment and retention of men into the children and families’ workforce, and created an e-learning course on positive fatherhood for professionals.
Impact
Reflected in The Impact of Positive Fatherhood report, learning and evaluation over six years strongly suggest that improving the well-being of fathers from disadvantaged backgrounds can improve the well-being of their children. It can also improve the quality of family relationships and benefit the well-being of partners and ex-partners.
A social return on investment study concluded that the social value of the approach is in the range of £1:£14 and £1:£20. £1 invested yielded at least £2.25 of potential savings in children’s services alone.
There is more learning and resources on the Dadly Does It website.
Dadly Does It also led to the Speaking Dadly approach on the role of fathers in the speech, language and communication of children.
Fatherhood is steadily being seen as a positive asset within the children and families system in Greater Manchester. It is starting to be integrated as a theme within learning and development for professionals.
Dadly Does It won the Innovation Award in the Greater Manchester Health and Care Champion Awards 2018.
Funded by
Salford Clinical Commissioning Group, Lankelly Chase Foundation and Greater Manchester Combined Authority
