Connected Young Fatherhood University Research Study - CCN Summary
This report aims to better understand the experiences of young fathers -particularly in rural areas - during and after the Covid-19 pandemic.
The County Councils Network (CCN) supported this Connected Young Fatherhood research, producing it alongside Leeds Trinity University, Leeds City Council and Daddilife. It aimed to better understand the experiences of young fathers—particularly in rural areas—during and after the Covid-19 pandemic.
This local authority-specific summary report highlights key messages of importance from the research for councils. It highlights how young fathers often feel overlooked by services that are traditionally centred on mothers and children, despite fathers’ growing involvement in childcare.
It also reveals the impact of limited transport, employment barriers, and inconsistent digital access on rural young fathers. The report notes that professionals play a crucial role in empowering young fathers but are constrained by patchy funding, inconsistent policy focus, and structural barriers within public services.
It emphasises the need for early intervention, improved data collection, and more inclusive, father‑friendly service design.
Recommendations for local authorities to consider include:
- Embed the needs of young fathers into national and local early‑help policy.
- Ensure all family‑focused services actively support fathers as well as mothers.
- Collect data on fathers at the earliest opportunity in maternity and family services.
- Provide consistent funding for dedicated young father support across all councils.
- Ensure Levelling Up delivers equal opportunities for rural young fathers, including better transport, employment and education access.