Support for New Dads

Dads in Reading are getting some useful tips on parenting.

A Saturday club has been set up with money police seized from criminals to teach young dads how to cook and take care of their kids.

Last year Thames Valley Police recieved £95,000 from money recovered from criminal assets (for example confiscated cash or property) to allocate to community projects.

£15,000 of that was given to launch the EOS Project (Every Other Saturday) at the MAPP Centre in Mount Pleasant, which helps young fathers in Reading.

Chief Constable Sarah Thorton from Thames Valley police told us why they chose to give the money to this project.

"This is a project rooted in the community which is about helping dads to be better fathers. We read and hear so much about how good parenting is really important to keep children on the straight and narrow - and we thought this was an excellent project working in the community working with dads who want to be better dads."

The project will help teach dads how to cook for their kids, as well as running Peer Accreditation Course and making a documentary on dads.

Sharon Titus, who's co-ordinating the project, told Heart why they set this up just for dads:

"We couldn't find any young father support groups within this area - plenty out there for young mothers, but also the role of the father is very important to their children."

The project hopes to kick off in the summer.