We know from The Good Childhood Inquiry that good relationships with parents and carers are the basis of a good childhood.
The 2009 landmark report, A Good Childhood: Searching for values in a competitive age states that 'if fathers are more closely involved with their children, other things being equal, children develop better friendships, more empathy, higher self-esteem, better life satisfaction, and higher educational achievement.'
We also know from the first report of the Fatherhood Commission, Fatherhood Commission: Links between young people's relationships with their fathers and their mothers, and their well-being and self-esteem, that the quality of children's relationships with their fathers has a significant impact on their well-being.
In addition, the expectations of fathers over the last century has changed massively and this has led to a lot of confusion over the value and role of a father. This debate becomes even more crucial in a time of economic crisis when support services for families face major cuts and when parents face an increased risk of separation and unemployment, which often force a shift in their roles and responsibilities.
In light of all of this, the Fatherhood Commission aims to gather evidence from a range of children, professionals and the general public, to present a child-centred case for the importance of fatherhood.
We are also committed to representing the views of a diverse range of children, especially those who have little or no contact with their fathers.
The hope for this project is that we will be able to identify, understand and raise awareness of the barriers to father-child relationships and to produce a set of recommendations about how they might be removed.