Parenting
Fast Forward in Perfect Partnership with Peeple!
Peeple is a national UK charity that supports parents and young children to learn together, strengthening child development by building on everyday learning opportunities. With a strong evidence-base we equip professionals to empower families in creating a rich home learning environment through meaningful interactions. We have 4 programmes, all delivered with families…
Read MoreHow the Games You Played as a Child Shaped Your Brain
Veronica Lichtenstein, a licensed mental health counsellor and former teacher (Newsweek, 7/12/25) recently shared an interesting perspective on why many people who grew up gaming in the 1990s often think and learn differently from Gen Z. His argument was simple but striking: the games you played as a child didnât just entertain you â they…
Read MoreA night to remember, âBye, love you!â and the return of the role model.Â
Some notable events towards the end of November 2025 have put Scotland in the spotlight and, for a welcome change of late, it is not because of stories about gangland violence and turf wars. A couple of these events, captured on video, have gone truly viral and for all the right reasons too, positive stories…
Read MoreExploring the links between poverty and risk-taking behaviours in young people
Challenge Poverty Week 2025 Poverty is more than just a lack of money â itâs a lived experience that can deeply shape young peopleâs outlook, opportunities, and decisions. Among its many consequences, poverty has been closely linked to increased risk-taking behaviours in children and young adults. These behaviours can include substance use, early sexual activity,…
Read MoreMaking good conversations easier
Having Good Conversations with Young People  The key to building a positive relationship and sorting out any communication difficulties with your teenager is to keep the channels of communication open. No big lectures: Try to offer the same support that you would a friend – listen without passing comment, without making judgements or offering criticism.…
Read MoreRedefining Strength: Why healthy masculinity matters so much for the next generation
The Netflix drama Adolescence really brought this topic to the fore, and with award season coming up, thereâs sure to be another big bounce in the headlines and column inches it attracts. As we see outstanding young actor Owen Cooper being crowned the youngest ever Emmy nominee, have we made any progress since the show…
Read MoreAsk Dad’s response to Adolescence – Fact or Fiction?
âOne of our aims was to ask, âWhat is happening to our young men these days, and what are the pressures they face from their peers, from the internet, and from social media?â â Stephen Graham told Netflix. âAnd the pressures that come from all of those things are as difficult for kids here…
Read MoreStart a Good Conversation with Fast Forward
Fast Forward has secured a National Lottery award from The National Lottery Community Fund for our Good Conversations pilot. We will pilot support for parents & carers enabling them to become more comfortable, and confident, in having what they perceive as difficult conversations with their children. The pilot will draw on our significant experience in…
Read MoreAsking Dads About Fatherâs Day
Mark Hunter, our Project Officer leading the “Ask Dad More” project, shares some insights from The Haven Projectâs Dadtastic Group reflecting about Father’s Day. It is hard to argue that there is a more significant relationship in anyoneâs life than that between parent and child. âSignificantâ neednât mean wholly positive of course. The lack of…
Read MoreThe National Lottery Community Fund invests ÂŁ76,415 in supporting dads and father figures in Edinburgh and the Lothians.
Fast Forward has received a National Lottery award from The National Lottery Community Fund of ÂŁ76,415 to continue its work with dads and father figures. Over the next two years, Fast Forward will continue to develop and expand the Ask Dad More Project thanks to the award. The Ask Dad More Project will use the…
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