| Children are for Life - BBC London |
| Monday, 12 May 2008 |
By Evadney Campbell, Croydon Reporter
A new campaign has been launched which is calling on all men to pledge to be a ‘Father for Life’.
The ambitious crusade is being waged by Croydon based Mighty Men of Valour. The launch which was held at the Houses of Parliament received strong support from key black political figures. David Lammy, MP for Tottenham joined Dawn Butler the MP for Brent South and Operation Black Vote’s stalwart Simon Woolley to endorse the project.
“The way many of us in the community are failing to be there not just for our own [children] but for others - to set an example …. This work has got to begin and that’s what they're doing”, enthused Mr Lammy
Whilst the campaign is looking to current fathers to pledge lifelong support for their families, organisers are also looking to work with young people so they too will undertake their responsibilities as fathers, as a lifelong commitment.
Fredrick Clarke is a founder of Mighty Men of Valour. For him, although the focus of absent fathers in the media seems to be firmly placed on black men, he sees this campaign as being aimed at all fathers: “I don't want to focus on the fact that they are black but that they are men … so I'm saying to African Caribbean men that they can do whatever they want to achieve if they believe in themselves not as a ‘black man’ but as a man”.
“This is a campaign to get fathers [all fathers] to keep their word. We're asking them simply to make a few promises” continues Fredrick
Also at the launch were young people from the NSPCC, young fathers and fathers from BME groups as well as representatives from London churches and other faith groups.
Fathers for Life Pledges:
Honour the mother of his children
Keep the promises that he makes to his children
Be part of his child's life for the whole of their life
Love his child unconditionally
This article first appeared on the BBC London website. Please click here for more information.
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