Birmingham City are proud to announce another new member of the team - a wonderful project aimed at supporting fathers and male carers in the local community.
Daddy Longlegs focuses on children aged eight and under and aims to improve the emotional development and learning of the youngster but also the family bonding between the child and their male carer.
This is delivered through innovative activities and sessions that encourage and support male carers and child interaction and communication through play and other activities. The project is currently centred around Small Heath, Balsall Heath and Sparkbrook - all neighbouring communities to St. Andrew's.
It is the brainchild of the Murray Hall Community Trust, a voluntary trust and registered charity managed by local people, and funded by the Parenting Fund and Blues are happy to use the inspiration and pull of football to help however we can as part of the successful Our City, Our Vision initiative.
A series of link-ups - more details of which will be published in Blues News and on the club's official website, bcfc.com - will take place on an ongoing basis, including a Daddy Longlegs versus Blues staff five-a-side game and parents and carers enjoying a St. Andrew's stadium tour.
Daddy Longlegs' Racheal Baker, pictured above with Blues stars Craig Garnder and Chucho at the launch of the link-up, says: "It's wonderful to have the support of Birmingham City Football Club, particularly as these are parents and male carers living in the shadows of St. Andrew's Stadium and many of whom are Blues fans.
"We are always looking for ways to inspire parents and carers to get involved in Daddy Longlegs and the appeal of a Premier League football club and the profile that brings can only help.
"Daddy Longlegs is looking forward to working alongside the club and on behalf of everyone involved I'd like to say a big thank-you to Blues."
Outreach workers deliver Daddy Longlegs sessions through a whole host of venues including libraries, community centres, schools and clubs.
The service targets parents and carers from all walks of life and sessions delivered include Play and Stay, Creative Play, support groups, story time and targeted work for five to eight-year-olds to recognise their potential educational, emotional and social and development needs.
A key aim is to support the father/carer through positive parenting and to help them gain confidence in engaging with their children in the home and with outside agencies.
For more information about Daddy Longlegs please log on to www.murrayhall.co.uk and click on the 'our projects' section.
