Dads & Lads

“Any man can be a father but it takes someone special to be a dad.”

The aim of Dads and Lads North Dorset Motor Project is to engage and work with young people, particularly young men who are identified as not engaging with their education and/or engaged in criminal or anti-social behaviour, by involving them in a structured programme of motorcycle training, which we believe will give them a more positive focus.

Phase one: Using the motorcycles as an incentive, primarily target and engage young people who are raising concerns. However, the programme will be open to all young people and will not exclude anyone. Those not presenting with problematic behaviours, can act as positive role models for the others.


Phase two: Quite often many of the problems are rooted in difficult child/adult relationships brought about by the adolescent need to assert independence, which can lead to tension, conflict and rebelliousness. With this in mind, phase two will encourage the fathers of the boys attending and engage both in a positive, shared experience. Alongside this we will offer the fathers some parenting skills' workshops, so that they might feel better equipped to positively parent their child.

Tired but very happy participants after completing the first Dads and Lads course on Saturday, 30th April 2011.

"It was hard work but fantastic fun especially riding with my Dad!" Ollie. Aged 12

With grateful thanks to:

Signpost Housing Association                               The William Williams Charity                      The Dorset Youth Opportunity Fund

for their generous support of this project.