English: Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. Can I firstly say that I started planning this short debate before my own paternal situation changed, so I'm not motivated purely by self interest in bringing some of these issues to this Chamber today? I principally want to talk to you today about the Dads Can project in south-east Wales, which I first became aware of when I visited Monmouthshire Housing Association's headquarters earlier this year and got the chance to meet the excellent, dedicated staff based there. One of those, Katie Double, the Dads Can co-ordinator, introduced me to the project, its hopes, its aims and its success story. Katie is a passionate advocate for fathers everywhere and I know that there are - I can see you waving, yes - other members of the Dads Can team from Monmouthshire housing in the gallery today, so thank you for coming. Can I also say that this isn't about down-playing at all the necessary support that is out there for mothers? It's about filling a gap in support services where we think a gap exists. With statistics demonstrating that three quarters of suicides are by males, one in three children grow up without a father, divorce rates cost every taxpayer approximately £1,500 a year, and 15-year-olds are today more likely to have a smartphone than a father at home, Dads Can goes a long way in supporting families to become more stable and more cohesive. The project primarily aims to address the gender inequalities experienced by dads through helping them to achieve a brighter future and to become positive role models in their children's lives. Dads Can reduces the impact of traumatic events experienced by families. Adverse childhood experiences create an increased risk to children's future development, and therefore the project focuses on breaking this generational cycle through emotional support and embedding positive behavioural change. The project uses a coaching approach to support dads in identifying solutions to problems they face such as low self esteem, mental ill health, relationship breakdown, access to children and negative lifestyle choices. A network of support has been created through peer mentoring, role modelling, advocacy and brokering relationships with local support providers. They also provide advice and guidance and opportunities to access family enrichment programmes. Times are changing: traditional modes of masculinity have been replaced in favour of a more equal society. However, in many spheres, the role of fatherhood has too often been overlooked. Through providing support in non-judgmental and safe environments, dads are able to open up and discuss their problems, which they may not feel comfortable addressing in other fora. Now, as a result of services being often understandably mother-focused, some dads can feel isolated during their child's early years, so it's no surprise to find that a quarter of fathers experience depression in the first year, which almost always goes undiagnosed. Early years services are predominantly provided by females, creating a female-orientated environment - again, understandable in many respects, but this does mean that some dads find it difficult stepping into that environment. Dads Can's work of co-delivering some of these sessions means that dads have had effective engagement in these programmes.
Welsh: Diolch, Ddirprwy Lywydd. A gaf fi ddweud yn gyntaf fy mod wedi dechrau cynllunio'r ddadl fer hon cyn i fy sefyllfa dadol fy hun newid, felly nid wyf wedi fy nghymell yn llwyr gan hunan-les wrth ddod â rhai o'r materion hyn i'r Siambr heddiw? Yn bennaf hoffwn siarad â chi heddiw am brosiect Dads Can yn ne-ddwyrain Cymru, y deuthum yn ymwybodol ohono gyntaf pan ymwelais â phencadlys Cymdeithas Tai Sir Fynwy yn gynharach eleni a chael cyfle i gyfarfod â'r staff rhagorol ac ymroddedig sy'n gweithio yno. Cefais fy nghyflwyno gan un o'r rheini, Katie Double, Cydlynydd Dads Can, i'r prosiect, ei obeithion, ei nodau a'i hanes llwyddiannus. Mae Katie yn ymgyrchydd brwd dros dadau ym mhobman a gwn fod - gallaf eich gweld yn codi llaw, oes - mae aelodau eraill o dîm Dads Can tai Sir Fynwy yn yr oriel heddiw, felly diolch i chi am ddod. A gaf fi ddweud hefyd nad yw hyn yn ymwneud â bychanu'r holl gymorth angenrheidiol sydd ar gael i famau? Mae'n ymwneud â llenwi bwlch mewn gwasanaethau cymorth lle y teimlwn fod bwlch yn bodoli. Gydag ystadegau'n dangos mai dynion yw tri chwarter yr achosion o hunanladdiad, fod un o bob tri phlentyn yn tyfu i fyny heb dad, fod cyfraddau ysgaru'n costio oddeutu £1,500 y flwyddyn i bob trethdalwr, a bod pobl ifanc 15 oed yn fwy tebygol o fod yn berchen ar ffôn clyfar na thad yn y cartref heddiw, mae Dads Can yn gwneud llawer i gynorthwyo teuluoedd i ddod yn fwy sefydlog ac yn fwy cydgysylltiedig. Yn bennaf, nod y prosiect yw ymdrin ag anghydraddoldebau rhwng y rhywiau a brofir gan dadau drwy eu helpu i gael dyfodol mwy disglair a dod yn fodelau rôl cadarnhaol ym mywydau eu plant. Mae Dads Can yn lleihau effaith digwyddiadau trawmatig a brofir gan deuluoedd. Mae profiadau niweidiol yn ystod plentyndod yn creu mwy o risg i ddatblygiad plant yn y dyfodol, ac felly mae'r prosiect yn canolbwyntio ar dorri'r cylch hwn rhwng cenedlaethau drwy gymorth emosiynol ac ymgorffori newid ymddygiad cadarnhaol. Mae'r prosiect yn defnyddio dull hyfforddi i gynorthwyo tadau i nodi atebion i broblemau a wynebant fel diffyg hunan-barch, salwch meddwl, perthynas yn chwalu, mynediad at blant a dewisiadau ffordd o fyw negyddol. Cafodd rhwydwaith o gymorth ei greu drwy fentora gan gyfoedion, modelau rôl, eiriolaeth a threfnu perthynas â darparwyr cymorth lleol. Maent hefyd yn darparu cyngor ac arweiniad a chyfleoedd i ddefnyddio rhaglenni cyfoethogi teuluoedd. Mae'r amserau'n newid: disodlwyd mathau traddodiadol o wrywdod o blaid cymdeithas fwy cyfartal. Fodd bynnag, mewn sawl maes, cafodd rôl y tad ei hanwybyddu'n aml. Drwy ddarparu cymorth mewn amgylcheddau diogel ac anfeirniadol, gall tadau fod yn fwy agored a thrafod eu problemau, rhywbeth nad ydynt yn gyfforddus yn ei wneud mewn fforymau eraill. Bellach, o ganlyniad i'r ffaith bod gwasanaethau yn ddealladwy yn aml yn canolbwyntio ar y fam, gall rhai tadau deimlo'n ynysig yn ystod blynyddoedd cynnar eu plentyn, felly nid yw'n syndod darganfod bod chwarter y tadau'n profi iselder yn ystod y flwyddyn gyntaf, ac anaml iawn y gwneir diagnosis ohono. Caiff gwasanaethau blynyddoedd cynnar eu darparu'n bennaf gan fenywod, gan greu amgylchedd sy'n canolbwyntio ar fenywod - unwaith eto, mae'n ddealladwy ar lawer ystyr, ond mae'n golygu bod rhai tadau yn ei chael hi'n anodd camu i mewn i'r amgylchedd hwnnw. Mae gwaith Dads Can yn cyd-ddarparu rhai o'r sesiynau hyn yn golygu bod tadau wedi cymryd rhan yn effeithiol yn y rhaglenni hyn.