Daddy Matters workshop scheduled for Father's Day

The connection between violence and father absenteeism is just one of many issues that will be addressed at the second staging of the Daddy Matters workshop.

First held in 2014, it returns tomorrow - Fathers' Day - at Pages CafÈ, Hope Gardens, through a collaborative effort of male parenting advocacy group, Fathers Incorporated, and the Ministry of National Security.

Herbert Gayle, chairman of Fathers Inc, said that the workshop is geared towards helping men to become better fathers. He believes the only way to do this is to provide men with the necessary information.

BEING MORE RESPONSIBLE

"If you are acting in ignorance, we can forgive you easily, but now that we've provided you with material, you will be expected to be a little more responsible because you know what to do," Gayle declared.

He said that he expects this year's workshop to be better.

"We had 85 fathers at the first one and people came to various sessions as they saw fit. There are persons today that still tell us thanks for that workshop because they learned so much," said Gayle.

The workshop is scheduled to begin at 10 a.m. and will feature four panels throughout the course of the day - Daddy Matters, Money Matters, Legal Matters and Sex Matters - which will span various aspects of fatherhood.

In celebration of Father's Day, Gayle highlighted that lunch will be free for all fathers in attendance. The workshop is also free of cost and all members of the public are invited.

Entertainment will be provided at lunch and between panel sessions.

Other sponsors of the event are The Gleaner Company, UWI Department of Sociology, Psychology and Social Work, Pages Cafe and First Heritage Co-operative Credit Union.