Nurturing father and son understanding

By Katie Kilgallen 12 September 2008

The Liverpool-based Active Fatherhood Project was set up to improve father-son relationships in local Somali and Yemeni communities that have been strained by living in a different culture as well as by cross-generational differences. Academics from Manchester Metropolitan University and the University of Central Lancashire teamed up with Building Bridges - a service that supports the emotional and psychological wellbeing of ethnic minority families - to give fathers and sons a chance to meet and discuss these issues. The project began with workshops where participants explored feelings about their relationships. As a result of those meetings, fathers' parenting groups were established. The Somali sons went on to produce their own magazine and the Yemeni sons made a DVD. Both media projects enabled the groups to explore their fathers' concerns for them and what they feel about being young in Britain. Carolyn Kagan, project leader, answers our panel's questions.