A TEENAGER sitting their GCSEs is more likely to own a smartphone than live with their dad.

Only 51 per cent of 15-year-olds are still living with their fathers while 62 per cent own a smartphone.

This is one of several startling statistics published in the Centre for Social Justice’s 2016 Annual Fatherhood Survey.

The report makes a compelling case for why social mobility and wellbeing is entrenched in fathers having an active role in their child’s life.

Ultimately, MPs are calling for fatherhood to be taken seriously and so is Sonia Shaljean, of Lads Need Dads, who has long been switched on to the impact of absent, or limited access to, a male role model.

She said: “The absence of dad runs deep but it also means different things for different people.

“Dad could’ve died, lives abroad, recently left the home, or maybe a boy has never met his dad.

“The concerning issue is statistics show young boys who grow up without a father, or access to a male role model, may struggle as teenagers and are at a higher risk of low self-esteem, dropping out of education, antisocial behaviour, substance abuse and crime.

“The odds are stacked against you if you’re male and as a mum of three boys, I find this depressing.”

When Sonia founded the not-for-profit enterprise Lads Need Dads this year, she did so under the premise of prevention being better than cure.

Having worked in the statutory and voluntary sector for more than 20 years, mainly with males, Sonia realised this was where her heart was but she found she was battling against a “reactive society”.

Under the mentorship of vetted male volunteers, Lads Need Dads takes teenagers between the ages of 11 and 15 through a year-long early intervention programme called Equip and Engage.

Equip lays down the building blocks of emotional intelligence by exploring anger and emotions, gender stereotypes, adolescence and the teenage brain.

It is then followed by Engage where the youngsters are immersed in practical workshops which teach life skills including community volunteering.

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She said: “A 12-month programme is rare but if you work along someone for a year, it’s a far better measure of change.

“Engage has really helped focus some of the older boys and given them a taster into potential career paths.

“Between 11 and 15 is a critical age in a teenager’s development, and a particularly difficult time for mothers if they’re by themselves.

“I really want to stress women aren’t failing by admitting they need support but we can’t be men and society has to recognise the important role fathers and men play in raising boys.”

Currently, Sonia is running a pilot with a group of 16 boys from Clacton County High School which began in March 2015.

The most impressive increases were with parents and carers who saw an increase in their child’s emotional behaviour from 25 per cent to 87 per cent after Equip.

Their conduct went up from 38 per cent to 80 per cent and attitude towards school was rated at 80 per cent from 25 per cent.

Louis Rogers, 16, wishes he had learnt about self-awareness much earlier because then he would have known “why he was so introverted”.

Each session begins with group reflection where the boys’ share how they feel and doing so has lifted a weight from Louis’s shoulders.

He said: “I’m really glad I did it because otherwise I would’ve been in the same place I was before – unsocial and in my comfort zone all the time.

“Mentally, I wasn’t able to go beyond it but now I’m able to know how I feel, tell other people and get a nice reaction.

“I’m able to understand why people do things and then I can be OK with it and more calm and aware.”

Both Louis and Jordan Legate, 14, recently took part in the Engage Come Dine With Me dinner where the Year 9 and 10 boys cooked a three-course meal for their mums, sponsored by the Tesco Superstore in Clacton.

Jordan’s mum Michelle Haines jumped at the chance for him to be involved with Lads Need Dads when he arrived home with a letter from school.

He was being targeted by bullies, stressed in the lead up to his Year 9 exams and had what he described as a “major anger outburst” at home.

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“It’s completely changed me,” he said, smiling.

“Before I was really negative - I didn’t care about anything and my anger was uncontrollable.

“Now I’m focusing more on school and hanging around with the right people. And I can open up more to my mum.”

Sonia’s vision is to have Equip and Engage available in schools across the UK but to do so she desperately needs more volunteers, of which there are ten.

Lads Need Dads itself was founded with a £4,000 award which Sonia secured from charity the School of Social Entrepreneurs.

The pilot ends in February and can only continue if more funds are secured.

Currently it is being financed by the Police and Crime Commission and the Shackleton Foundation.

Sonia said: “The magic about our programme is the dedicated team of mentors we have.

“We couldn’t do this without them.

“Everyone is unique and has something to offer, be it life experience, trades or hobbies.

“We want to take our programme to other schools in the area but can’t do this without the help of more local men who share a heart for this issue and want to make a difference in the lives of young men.”

  • Lads Need Dads is looking for more volunteers. If you are male, over 25 and able to volunteer two hours a week, call 07553 618033 or email info@ladsneeddads.