What is City Fathers? 

City Fathers is an initiative aiming to call out mature Christian men to spend intentional regular time with younger men, supporting them through difficult life circumstances or simply encouraging them towards maturity of thought, emotion and behaviour. 

 

Who are City Fathers? 

City Fathers are men of maturity who are willing to commit to meeting regularly, actively listening and sharing from their own life experience. They are committed to lifelong learning and recognise that emotional maturity is a continual process for all of us. They are not professionals and may have no formal training, but their intention is to help young men to thrive through a long term regular commitment to spend time with a younger man. 

 

Is this only for Christians or people involved in a church? 

City Fathers will be Christians and involved with a local church, but there is no requirement or expectation on the younger men with whom they meet to have any faith or to attend church at any time. City Fathers will share openly from their own experience, which will from time to time include sharing how their faith has helped them to mature as men. 

What are the safeguards? 

City Fathers is for adults only, not minors. All City Fathers have gone through a safer recruitment process and undertaken enhanced DBS checks.  They are part of a group of mature guys, with whom they have spent time and will continue to meet regularly.  They have undertaken some basic training in listening and safeguarding. City Fathers are paired with a buddy, with whom they will share and be accountable to, having regard to confidentiality.  Safeguarding is overseen by Rediscover Church Exeter. 

 

How can I get involved? 

The first thing to do would be to listen to the more in depth explanation of the vision, given by Richard Miles. If you think that you would like to take that further, then please email him at RichardMiles@cityfathers.net. 

The process from there will be as follows: 

  • Participation in a small group for a few weeks to explore a bit more about the role and to consider whether you are suitable to take this on. 

  • An application process, which will include City Fathers taking up a reference. 

  • Undertaking some training in the role, including safeguarding and active listening. 

  • Committing to ongoing personal growth and accountability to other City Fathers. 

 

How can I get help? 

If you are interested in meeting up with a City Father, please email RichardMiles@cityfathers.net with your phone number and he will contact you to discuss further. 

Sign up to meet with a City Father 

 

I understand that there is a framework within which I can expect my relationship with a City Father to operate: 

  • We will aim to treat each other with respect 

  • We will communicate if we are unable to meet up as arranged 

  • We expect to meet regularly for the foreseeable future, but recognise that there is no obligation on either party to continue to meet 

  • If we do not hit it off naturally, then I could potentially meet up with a different City Father 

  • City Fathers will not give me money under any circumstances 

  • City Fathers will treat what I tell them with complete confidentiality, subject to the following: 

    • They may share with another City Father, in order to take advice or gain mutual support in their role 

    • The may be obligated by law to share any disclosures of criminal activity, or where they believe that somebody is in immediate danger.