Bleeping Babies - North Manchester Positive Futures

For a group of young people from Positive Futures @ Fairbridge North Manchester, time spent hanging out with friends and having a laugh was replaced by nappy changing and burping!

The project ran over 4 days where the teenagers were asked to take care of model training babies that cry and require attention as much as real babies. In order to make the project as true to life as possible, young people were asked to carry out various tasks during the week such as cooking and shopping, whilst taking care of a baby. Sleep was also in short supply as young people were taken away on a 1 night residential with their Bleeping Babies to give a taste of taking care of a baby around the clock.

Moments during the 4 day project often proved to be frustrating for the young people. Their patience was tested as they were being given a realistic picture of life as a teenage parent. While all tasks were kept as realistic as possible, they were still carried out in the boundaries of guidance and support from trained staff members at Fairbridge North Manchester.

As well as looking after the babies, the project also discussed issues surrounding sexual health, the importance of a healthy pregnancy and the effects of drug or alcohol misuse during this time. Young people also looked into the costs of parenthood in terms of money, social life and childcare.