The first episode of a new monthly podcast series launching this Sunday, Father’s Day, exploring real stories about young dads, imprisonment, and what it means to hold onto love, identity, and hope in the toughest of places.
Fathers Together is a CNWL-led research project which was co-led by Dr Anita Mehay and Professor Richard Watt, in collaboration with the Race Equality Foundation. It focuses on understanding and supporting young fathers in prison, particularly those from Black, Asian and racially minoritised backgrounds - through the co-production of a culturally sensitive parenting programme. They worked across five prisons (including three CNWL sites), and the study is supported by a highly engaged PPI group of racially minoritised men with lived experience of imprisonment.
There are around 88,000 prisoners in England and Wales: most are men, and many are young fathers. These young men face multiple and overlapping disadvantages: racism, school exclusion, poor mental health, and trauma. Becoming a father under the age of 25 is challenging in itself and fatherhood in prison adds new layers of isolation, stigma, and disconnection from their children.
Hosted by Roifield Brown, this deeply human series shares the real stories of five fathers from racially minoritised communities who became dads young and served time behind bars. Through interviews, reflection, and expert insights, the podcast explores how they stayed connected to their children, what they lost, and what they’re fighting to rebuild.
In each episode we'll meet a father and explore how his imprisonment has shaped his relationship with his children and family. The series will run for six episodes, released monthly.
Dr Anita Mehay, Senior Research Fellow at the Centre for Health Innovation Research (CHIR) at City St. George’s, University of London, and co-lead for the Fathers Together study, said:
“We tell the personal stories of men who have been young fathers whilst in prison and the challenges, joys, pains and love they experienced. The men are incredibly honest, vulnerable, emotional, tricky, messy - everything. But ultimately they are very real stories that we need to hear.”
You can find more about the Fathers Together study on their website: www.fatherstogether.co.uk - including their main YouTube clip.
The podcast will be available to listen to from Sunday 15 June on the following channels:
Spotify: Fathers Together podcast | Podcast on Spotify
The podcast will also be available on Apple Podcasts
Image: Father's Together