Initiatives Supporting Fathers Seek to Reduce Youth Violence

“Riding for the fathers, riding for the dads!” A group of approximately twelve men on bicycles was observed circling the Emirates stadium, home to Arsenal football ground, on a windy Sunday afternoon. They were heard chanting in celebration of fatherhood, presenting an unexpected scene to passersby. Terrell Lewis, a father of two daughters aged 10 and four, commented on the event, stating, “It’s good fun!” He added that it involved “Bonding, health and fitness, and celebrating fatherhood.” This activity was arranged by organizations that are part of a new £350,000 initiative from London’s Violence Reduction Unit (VRU). The program’s objective is to strengthen the connections between fathers and their children. Terrell emphasized the significance of such gatherings, stating, “I definitely think it’s important to have events like this to give fathers that support network. That brotherhood.” He facilitates workshops for Jigsaw, one of the participating groups, which provides therapeutic assistance to fathers. He further noted, “There are some men out there who are suffering in silence. They don’t know where to go.” The VRU was established by the mayor in 2019 with the purpose of addressing the root causes of violence through preventative measures and early intervention programs. Lib Peck, the VRU’s director, stated, “What we know from listening to 14,000 parents that we work with across London is that, too often, fathers are absent, and what we also see from evidence is that 60% of boys whose fathers are in custody unfortunately go on to offend.” Ms. Peck indicated that their research identified deficiencies in support available for fathers in London and suggested that many fathers were hesitant to utilize existing services. Consequently, it was deemed crucial to fund grassroots organizations that had already cultivated strong ties within their respective communities. She further commented, “I think it’s incredibly hard for anyone to admit there’s a weakness or a vulnerability, but they’re much more likely to do it with someone they trust.” The organizations receiving financial support include Father2Father, Father Figure, Coffee Afrik, Jigsaw, and Lifeline in north London, alongside Groundwork and Bridge The Gap in south London. These groups provide assistance such as fostering healthy relationships and guidance for individuals facing challenges with co-parenting or attempting to navigate the family court system to secure access to their children. Courtney Brown of Father2Father highlighted the importance for fathers to convene and feel empowered to express themselves. Mr. Brown noted that initiating the process of seeking help can be difficult, and emotions are frequently “very, very raw,” as fathers may “break down” due to frustration or anger. He explained, “That’s why we create those emotional wellbeing spaces for dads to come and know they’re not judged, so it’s a safe space for them to open up.” Mr. Brown attributed some of these emotions to generational trauma. He suggested that these men might be fathers who were raised without a paternal figure, or who witnessed or endured domestic violence during childhood, or whose fathers contended with mental health problems, alcohol, or drug dependencies. Mr. Brown stated, “They’re angry about not having had a dad there, or they’re worrying they’re going to repeat what their dad did, and holding all that anxiety and anger towards their dads, which then plays out.” He indicated that his motivation to establish the group stemmed from successfully mending a challenging relationship with his own father. This experience, in turn, enabled him to acknowledge and apologize for the strained relationship he had with his now-adult sons. Mr. Brown conveyed, “There’s always hope.” He added, “We have to give hope. It’s about the children and young people. We are not here to judge. We need to understand how they got there, and put a solution in place.” A question was raised regarding situations involving allegations of violence or abuse against fathers, or circumstances where a father’s return to a child’s life might pose a safety risk. Ms. Peck responded, “We completely abide by the law in connection with what a father is entitled to have in a relationship with a young person.” She clarified, “This is much more about those young fathers who want a relationship, but aren’t sure quite how to go about it, perhaps have personal barriers. So it’s all done in safe spaces, and it’s all making sure clearly it’s done within the law.” Data from the Metropolitan police indicates that 1,360 individuals under 25 years old sustained knife injuries in London during the year ending October, representing a 6% decrease from the preceding 12 months. Fatalities among teenagers due to violence decreased from a peak of 30 in 2021 to 14 in 2022, though this number subsequently increased to 21 last year. Furthermore, the VRU may face substantial budget reductions, with draft plans from the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime projecting a decrease from £36.8 million in 2025-26 to £28.7 million in 2027-28. The government, having pledged to reduce knife crime by half within a decade, has announced intentions to raise the total policing budget for the upcoming year, with specific force allocations yet to be disclosed. Ms. Peck commented, “I think the government has made a big commitment to a long term strategy around prevention.” She added, “Over the last five and a half years, we’ve invested in things we know work, in terms of diverting and supporting young people, and making sure they’re safer and able to thrive.” She expressed that she is “very much hoping that we’ll see that reflected in budgets.” Mr. Brown stated that over a decade of working in secondary schools has demonstrated to him the difficulties children face when they lack healthy relationships with their fathers. He elaborated, “It might be dads who are working too much… or dad’s got a new family… mum was stopping them from seeing dad. That was troubling those young people, and that behaviour was being demonstrated in the classroom, in the corridors, in the community.” Isaac Olagunju, father to a three-year-old son, shared that he consistently felt distinct from his peers due to growing up without his father’s presence. He clarified, “I never wanted my child to go through that.” Olagunju recounted joining a Zoom session hosted by Bridge The Gap in 2021, during a Covid lockdown, to seek assistance following the breakdown of his relationship. He described the experience as, “It was literally the best thing ever.” He added, “It was more of a camaraderie – meeting other dads, hearing their experiences, giving me hope to say ‘you know, it’s not that bad’.” Olagunju stated that spending time with his son brings him “nothing but pure joy.” Leon Thompson, father to a five-year-old daughter, shared that he served as a young carer for his “very powerful, strong” mother and has never met his own father. Mr. Thompson indicated that he has found it beneficial to both seek and exchange parenting advice with other individuals. At 27 years old, he perceives that young fathers encounter specific difficulties, including securing employment that accommodates full-time caring duties. He remarked, “I wouldn’t say there’s any wisdom on our back to look after a young child.” He continued, “We haven’t had time to build ourselves as an individual, build a sustainable income.” He also observed, “Also, there’s a lot of men who don’t want to open up.” Mr. Thompson mentioned that he and his daughter recently participated in an afternoon tea event organized by the group, which they both enjoyed. He conveyed his aspirations for her future. He stated, “I want to be very present for her, to be there to help her with whatever she needs,” He concluded, “The world is a very nasty place, and it’s even harder for women, so I just want to make sure she’s safe but also happy with what she’s doing and happy in life.”