The National Lottery Community Fund invests £76,415 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 £76,415 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 funding to deliver parenting workshops and informal educational inputs for vulnerable and at risk dads, including grandads and male carers/guardians.

The aim of the project is to support dads and father figures to build on their knowledge and understanding of issues affecting children and young people and improve communication between father and child around health and wellbeing issues and risk taking behaviour. In short, well informed confident dads make for happier healthier children and young people.

The positive impact of having better informed, more confident dads can be seen in the improvement of the physical and mental wellbeing of the whole family as well as children and young people’s educational attainment. These positive impacts are even more profound in the communities which suffer most from poverty and other inequalities.

The National Lottery Community Fund Scotland Chair, Maureen McGinn, said: “I am delighted that Fast Forward has been successful in securing a grant from The National Lottery Community Fund. The award will make a big difference where it is needed most and I wish the Ask Dad More Project every success as it goes on to develop and expand its project for the benefit of their local community.”

Commenting on the award, Ask Dad More Project Officer Mark Hunter said,

“I am delighted that the success of the pilot Ask Dad Project has led to the National Lottery supporting the continuation of this work. Dads and father figures are an often overlooked and underused asset when we look at ways to promote the health and wellbeing of children and young people. The Ask Dad Project has demonstrated that men are willing to engage in workshops and discussions about their role in the health and development of children, when they are given a friendly, non-judgmental forum. Ask Dad More aims to do this and more in the next two years, thanks to the support of the National Lottery Community Fund.”

Please find the full press release here.