Young dad stereotypes tackled by postcard campaign

James Withycombe, from County Durham, said becoming a young father to Violet "was quite a shock" and not planned but "when it finally happened, all I did was cry, I was so happy".

Negative stereotypes of young fathers are being tackled by a postcard campaign highlighting positive images of the men with their children.

The Reframing Young Fatherhood project has been set up by North East Young Dads and Lads (NEYDL), in Gateshead, which gives social, financial and practical support to fathers under the age of 25 from across the region.

The charity said the portraits were designed as a "celebration of dads who are often misunderstood and misrepresented".

TV presenter Jeff Brazier, who became a dad aged 23 and is supporting the project, said young fathers often faced "judgement and stigma".

Callum Fay, from Gateshead, pictured with son Archie, says: "This is my favourite picture in the world - seeing how he is looking and how he's listening, I just feel like he's looking up to us."

NEYDL said young men were often dismissed by service providers.

Founder Kevin Stoodley said the stigma linked to young parenthood could often lead them to feel isolated and reluctant to ask services for help.

"Young dads talk to us about when they are out with their children in public, they get looked at, they get ridiculed, they get verbal abuse," he said.

"When they seek help from professionals, historically they've experienced a stone wall or not been supported.

"The images are challenging communities and their own families to think about young dads differently."

Alex Tarling, from Middlesbrough, said his daughter "came out screaming" and, looking at her, he realised "she's my responsibility and I'm going to love her and I'm going to cherish her".

Brazier, now 45, who has appeared on reality TV programmes such Celebrity SAS: Who Dares Wins and Celebrity MasterChef, said he was "full of admiration" for young dads and "the lengths they go to while often facing excruciating barriers and obstacles".

He said parenthood should be a "time of self-development, love and belonging".

But, he said, this was "sadly not the case for many young men who are forced to start their fatherhood journeys without meaningful support and against the backdrop of judgement, stigma and misunderstanding".

Callum Fay said his son "looks at me in exactly the same way whether I'm young or not".

The postcard packs will be sent to support services across the country in an attempt to challenge any stereotypes they may have, the charity said, and to show them how to better help young fathers.

Some images are also on display at the Baltic Centre for Contemporary Art in Gateshead.

James Withycombe said "negative stereotypes of young dads still existing" was something he wanted to change

Callum Fay believes young fathers can "thrive" with the right support and "it's important for professionals to not go in with a negative mindset"