Men's Health and Relationships

The Martial Arts programme strengthens relationships between family members, within communities and helps fathers gain access to other services. It enables existing service providers to engage with ‘hard to reach’ fathers and consult with them on the development of future services

The programme runs over eight weeks. Qualified health and spots trainers and Fathers Plus staff will work in partnership with local workers from the statutory and voluntary/community sector to deliver the programme. Each week the fathers/male carers will address a different aspect of mental and physical health and fitness and link this to everyday family and relationship issues.

The programme helps build bridges to other services, supporting partner workers to engage and consult with fathers and provide access to additional support where required

The Martial Arts programme has been proven to be effective in improving father-child relationships, reducing family stress, building community and helping to resolve family conflicts.

Martial Arts has worked effectively with fathers in a number of settings including County Durham Sure Start, quoted as an example of good practice in the Children’s Centre guidance (DfES 2006).