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Due to commonly held misconceptions and stereotypes, young fathers are some of the most marginalised parents in society and are often excluded from the very systems and services that can improve their life chances.
According to Nicki Pierce, who has a University of Lincoln studentship linked to the UKRI-funded Following Young Fathers Further project, this is especially so within education. She is now exploring these issues in a bid to find out if young working-class men have their educational trajectory disrupted when they become fathers.
“I want to see if young fathers are leaving school early to get a job to help their families and look at what support could be put in place to avoid this happening,” explains Nicki. “I also want to see what kind of knock-on effect that leaving education can have on their children, as studies have shown that fathers are more likely to support their own children through education if they themselves have had a positive and engaging experience.”
Young fathers are often invisible within our current education system. They find it difficult to engage with a system that seems stacked against them. Through my research, I want to encourage schools to adopt more equitable approaches, where young fathers can get the support and resources they need to continue their education and avoid leaving without the qualifications and experiences that change lives.
Nicki Pierce
PhD Student, School of Social and Political Sciences
Nicki is conducting interviews with young fathers to get a clearer picture of the kinds of issues they face, working with both fathers who have left education and those that have remained.
“The aim is to develop a toolkit that can be used in schools to help support young fathers during what can be a particularly challenging and stressful time,” says Nicki, whose research forms part of the Following Young Fathers Further project, which is exploring new ways of embedding father-inclusive practices and policies in the UK.
“The toolkit could include access to counselling services, parenting lessons, time off for ante-natal appointments, parental leave after the child is born, and more opportunities to continue to learn at home through the various digital platforms that are currently available.
“There is a lot of prejudice around young working-class men and their willingness or desire to be good fathers. We have legislation to help young mothers but nothing to help young fathers. And I haven't found any examples of good practice in the education system at the moment. This new approach could provide the opportunities that young fathers need to continue with their education.”
Following Young Fathers Further is a research study involving close partnership working with young fathers and professionals to understand the experiences and support needs of fathers aged 25 and under, with the aim of promoting a more father-inclusive approach to support in the UK.
As well as working with the Following Young Fathers Further project, Nicki is also a member of the Centre for Innovation in Fatherhood and Family Research, which is aiming to advance knowledge and expertise in fatherhood and family research and is distinctive within the Higher Education sector for its combined focus on fatherhood and family welfare as core areas of societal significance.
“I’m blessed to be working with an amazing group of extremely talented people here at Lincoln,” says Nicki, who is supervised by Professor Anna Tarrant, a UKRI Future Leaders Fellow, and Suzanne Clisby, Professor of Social Justice at the University. “Everybody has been incredibly supportive throughout my research and can always find time in their busy schedules to offer advice and lend a helping hand.
“I’ve learned so much in the past year. I now know a lot more about how to undertake effective research. I’ve also had plenty of opportunities to present at conferences and share my research with other students and academics. These have been invaluable experiences during my PhD.”
The Centre for Innovation in Fatherhood and Family Research (CFFR), based at the University of Lincoln, brings together academics, multi-agency practitioners, and those with lived experiences to address and understand the many pressing social issues that directly impact on the lives of families.
Another memorable experience for Nicki was winning the East Midlands Regional Final of the 2024 FameLab communication competition, which discovers, trains, and promotes the best new voices in science, social sciences, technology, and engineering.
“I just didn’t know what to do when they announced the winners,” says Nicki, whose pitch focused on her research around the abandonment of white working-class girls in education and is the only social scientist shortlisted for the competition final.
“You only have three minutes to discuss your research, so it's a very intense experience. I was really shocked with the outcome, but winning the regional final was incredible as it’s a great competition to be involved in."
You can find out more about Nicki's research interests, academic background, work experiences, and external activities on her profile page.