ChildRIGHT Interview: Matt Buttery, chief executive, Family Matters Institute
Monday, January 10, 2011
The Family Matters Institute runs a social network service called dadtalk.co.uk. Can you tell us about it?
Dadtalk.co.uk is a web-based service for any man in a fathering role. It's structured on a social networking framework with daily blogs, news and a wealth of tips and expert advice. At the heart of the site is the "PubTalk" forum that offers no-nonsense advice, including free legal and financial advice, alongside peer-to-peer support from the DadTalk community. DadTalk is free to join and those signing up also receive daily tips by email.
How did you know that fathers needed advice and information about parenting?
DadTalk began as a discussion about how to address some of our most difficult social problems, particularly in black and minority ethnic communities. At the Family Matters Institute we believe that strong family is at the heart of a strong society. However, with the highest rate of family breakdown in Europe many children are growing up "fatherless". Research shows us that fathers play a significant role in the lives of children, including influencing academic achievement, emotional health and wellbeing and reducing teenage risk-taking behaviour. We wanted to help dads understand their influence and role, and found that as an independent charity we were able to engage with fathers who told us they wanted a service like DadTalk.
The Children's Legal Centre works with DadTalk to provide free legal advice via an online forum. Why is it important for fathers to have access to legal advice?
Part of the DadTalk forum allows fathers to pose questions anonymously to legal advisers from the Children's Legal Centre, which is incredibly beneficial to men who've reached crisis point.
Users are very honest about their situations and in return get important expert advice relating to child law. Our own site intelligence shows us some of the most disadvantaged dads in society access DadTalk, and when a relationship breaks down financial hardship can easily and often follow, so keeping that advice free is a priority. Dads often feel isolated from their children and the support they get through the forum helps them to feel that they are not alone, while helping them to understand their rights and responsibilities.
Do you have any plans to further develop DadTalk?
Absolutely. DadTalk has generated user figures significantly above our own targets since we started two years ago, so we know we are doing something right. We want to build on this success and deliver a service that truly is "all things dad". Watch this space.