The Fable and Fact young mothers and fathers project was developed to bring together young parents from across England to explore the fables and facts of young parenthood, by finding out about existing negative stereotypes and identifying the true experiences of being a young parent.
Following this, the aim is to use this knowledge to challenge the negative attitudes that may exist amongst their peers, professionals who work with young parents, and in the general community.
Fable and Fact is a youth-led project that supports young parents themselves to research existing fable and fact issues regarding young parents and train and support them to share their views with others in a variety of ways.
What Have We Done So Far...?
So far, the young people involved in Fable and Fact have been involved in several stages of the project, including:
1. Planning and delivering a national two-day fact finding residential event for 35 young parents and their children, aimed at gathering ideas and experiences about the issues faced by young parents in England
2. Training in presentation skills and media skills, in order to express their views effectively
3. Interviews with the media including an article in “Children and Young People Now”, and presenting workshops at UK Youth’s “Participation, Inclusion and Achievement” conference in October 2007.
Click below to view the article.
Children and Young People Now Article January 2008
Fable and Fact was a runner up in the Young Partners awards for 
national youth-led projects in 2007.
Click below to view the application that two of the young mothers put together to enter the project into the awards.
Application for NCVYS Young Partners Award
What Next?
In the next few months, the young people involved in Fable and Fact will be:
1. Delivering workshops to students in universities and colleges who are studying youth work, social work and health care courses, to help them better understand the needs of young mums and dads
2. Writing press releases and taking part in various media interviews to share their message
3. Writing a toolkit based on their experiences, so that other young parents can be involved in similar projects and activities
Jason’s Story
Jason is a young father who is part of the Fable and Fact project. He felt that he wanted to tell his story in his own words; what being a young father means to him, the issues that he has faced and how the Fable and Fact project has impacted on his life in such a powerful and positive way.
Hi, my name is Jason and if i can change one person’s life or views it makes the effort worthwhile. My problems started when i was six years old. Being put around drink and drugs by my mum and having no dad around, i started to get confused and frustrated with what was right and wrong. This then turned into aggression and anger. Having no-one to talk to, I started to take my problems out with my fists. Constantly getting beaten at home my problems spiralled out of control and at the age of 9 I had been expelled from 3 schools and was
in with the wrong crowd.
I was now smoking cannabis, drinking and stealing cars to feed my addiction. Things were getting worse. Then at 15 I was expelled from my 7th school and 3rd boarding school which just made my problems worse. I still had no-one to turn to and with serious addictions and my mum
still beating me I left home and spent years moving round from place to place, job to job. That is until, at 20, i met Gem.
I started to come off the drink but couldn't stop the drugs. Then I found out we were going to have a baby and at that point I knew I didn’t want him to be like me. Somehow with someone now there for me (Gem), I finally managed to control my temper and addictions. Then at 23 years old i was invited with my partner to take part in FACT AND FABLE by UK YOUTH - a young parents’ project.
Since then I have not looked back. I’m now happily married and looking forward to being a dad again. I’m not saying this will work for everyone and I’m not suggesting that anyone with a drink and drugs problem should have kids, I’m just saying that this is what worked for me. Whatever your problem I wish you all the best and with the right support and self belief anything is possible.
