The guide — Young Fathers: What Works in Practice — seeks to recognise the crucial role fathers play in children’s development and wellbeing — and the systemic barriers that often prevent them from being fully involved.  

While highlighting that young fathers (men under the age of 25) are a diverse group who frequently face overlapping challenges such as poverty, unstable housing, disrupted education, poor mental health, and stigma, it also shows that when young men receive tailored, inclusive support, the benefits are transformative — not only for them, but for their children and wider communities. 

“For decades, public policy and professional practice around young parenthood has focused largely on mothers. Too often, young dads are overlooked or judged before they are understood. This guide shows what can happen when professionals engage young men as parents by actively including them,” Carmen Clayton, lead author and Professor of Family and Cultural Dynamics at Leeds Trinity University said.  

Developed in collaboration by Professor Clayton, Ruth King, Fathers Worker at Swindon Borough Council, and Tracey Modica, Family Nurse Partnership Service Manager at Swindon Borough Council, the guide draws on research into young fathers’ lived experiences to provide practical strategies, case studies, and tools for inclusive and effective young fatherhood support. 

“By supporting young fathers appropriately and effectively, professionals can play a significant role in helping young men to build and develop their skills as parents and improve the parent-child relationship. When services include and support young fathers, outcomes improve for young dads and their families,” Professor Clayton said. 

The launch of the guide comes at a crucial time, as campaigners continue to call for better Government policies around paternity leave. Barriers to paternity leave not only raise equity concerns but can also intensify pressures on mothers, and these are often felt even more acutely in young families. 

The guide encourages professionals to question whether their services and environment are welcoming of diverse family types and young fathers themselves. At the same time, it shares fundamentals of best practice around creating more inclusive spaces, challenging negative assumptions regarding young fathers and how to communicate in a more father-friendly manner. 

The guide can be found on the Swindon Joint Strategic Needs Assessment website and accessed by all professionals interested in improving services for young fathers.