WORKING WITH AFRICAN CARIBBEAN FATHERS IN LEEDS 21 Sept 05

The seminar; Why

More and more studies are beginning to show the centrality of fully engaged fathers in the lives of children. However the process of involving fathers and Black fathers in particular is proving challenging to both social care practitioners and their organisations.

The picture is complex; how do we engage Black fathers more effectively in Black family life and functioning? As practitioners how do we engage Black fathers in policy formulation and service delivery? What support do new or expectant Black fathers need as they begin parenthood? What do children need from their fathers? What strengths do U.K. African-Caribbean men bring to fathering? Is Black fathering the same all over the diaspora if so what can we learn? How is the picture changing as communities become less self-contained?

This seminar will be an exciting mix of research and practice, chaired by Errol John New Opportunities Manager Barnardo’s and co founder of The BabyFather Alliance.
Learn; methods and strategies to engage Black fathers in service planning and delivery.

Exchange; ideas and experiences with other workers and professionals in the field plus fathers themselves Develop; a deeper functional understanding of Black family life.

The scene will be set by the outstanding academic, theologian and film-maker Dr. Robert Beckford. Dr Beckford – responsible, among other things for the controversial TV documentaries ‘Who Wrote the Bible?’ and ‘God is Black’ - will talk about the contemporary 'BabyFather' phenomenon within the context of black family patterns in West Africa, the Caribbean, and the UK. (“from West Africa to West London”).
Celebrity/author/musician Patrick Augustus then talks about his books and hit TV series – ‘BabyFather’.

Distinguished psychologist Dr Jeune Guishard-Pine looks ‘beyond father absence’ to focus on ‘Men in Black families: A view from a child’s perspective’, father-child closeness and fathering behaviors in Black families.
Glen Richards a father from Leeds speaks of his experiences as a Black father in contemporary Britain.

The seminar will be of particular interest, to agencies who work with African Caribbean families, parents and their children in particular, policy developers, trainers, employers, and service managers, as well as practitioners, in the following settings; adoption, the criminal justice system, fostering, youth justice, education, faith organisations, family planning, child support, health, teenage pregnancy, youth work and family mediation, as well as workers in Black community organisations.

The event is also a tribute to the Founding Father of Barnardos Dr Thomas Barnardos whose vision of giving children a better start in life lives on through the work of the organisation today as they celebrate the centenary of his death.