Feasibility Study
The next phase of Fathers Together is a feasibility study of the adapted parenting programme for young fathers in prison.
A feasibility study helps us understand whether and how a programme can be delivered in real-world settings before moving to a larger evaluation. It asks practical but important questions: Can eligible fathers be identified? Will fathers want to take part? Can the programme be delivered safely and consistently in prisons? What do fathers, families, facilitators and staff think of it? What outcomes should be measured in the future?
What will the feasibility study do?
The feasibility study will deliver and test the Fathers Together parenting programme across three prisons. Six programmes will be delivered in total.
The study will use a test-and-learn approach. This means we will look closely at what works, what needs to be adapted, and what support is needed to deliver the programme well in different prison contexts.
The study will examine recruitment, attendance, delivery, acceptability, family involvement, data collection and the practical requirements for a future larger evaluation.
Alongside programme delivery, the study will explore family needs around re-entry and resettlement. This includes understanding what support fathers and families may need as release approaches, how relationships are negotiated after imprisonment, and how services might better support children, co-parents, carers and wider family members.
Who is the study for?
The study focuses on young fathers in prison, particularly young adult fathers who are thinking about their role in their children’s lives and may be preparing for release or future resettlement.
The study will also include learning from family members, facilitators, prison staff, practitioners and lived experience partners. This is important because fathers’ relationships with children and families are shaped not only by individual motivation, but also by prison systems, family circumstances and support outside prison.
What questions will the study answer?
The feasibility study will explore:
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whether young fathers are willing and able to take part;
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how prisons can identify eligible fathers;
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what helps or hinders recruitment and attendance;
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whether the programme can be delivered as intended;
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how fathers experience the programme;
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how families experience the wider study;
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how facilitators and prison staff experience delivery;
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what outcomes matter to fathers, children, families and services;
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what data can be collected in a future evaluation;
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how the programme might connect with resettlement and family life after release
Why does feasibility matter?
Prison-based research and programme delivery can be challenging. Regimes, staffing, transfers, visits, family circumstances and release dates can all affect whether programmes work in practice.
The feasibility study helps us understand these realities before moving to a larger trial or evaluation. It will help identify what needs to be adapted, strengthened or supported so that the programme can be delivered well and fairly.
How will lived experience shape this phase?
Lived experience partners will continue to shape the feasibility study. They will advise on recruitment, programme materials, interpretation of findings, family-facing communication and dissemination. Their role is central to making sure the study remains grounded in the realities of fathers and families.
What happens after the feasibility study?
The findings will inform whether and how the Fathers Together programme should move to a larger evaluation. They will also help develop policy and practice learning about young fathers in prison, family support, race equity and resettlement.