Men at work

AS HE approached 50, John Chapman fancied a change of career. The former coach driver had spend 20 years working at Ben Johnson's printers in York before being made redundant. Taking a lead from his wife Linda, a qualified childminder, John enrolled at York College for a qualification in child care.

Today, the couple run a childminding service from their home in Heworth.

"My friends all think I'm barmy," says John with a laugh. "But I've always loved kids. My friends say I should be taking it easy at my age. But there is no comparison with my other job. I used to work 12-hour shifts in a hot factory. Now, I am my own boss, take the kids out when I want and get to see them grow up: getting their first teeth, crawling, taking their first steps. We've worked with kids that were difficult to settle and even one with special needs. It's very rewarding."

Although John, 53, has only been working as a childminder for a year, he has more than half a lifetime of experience with children. He and Linda have five between them, aged from 15 to 32, plus three grandchildren.

To qualify as a childminder, John spent one day a week for three months at York College, where he was one of two men on a course containing 22 women.

"I didn't feel out of place," he says. "I felt OK because of my age. Quite a few young women on the course didn't have any children and my experience came across to them."

John is clearly a hit with the children: one charge calls him Daddy John. He believes he is fulfilling an important role.

"I am a bit of a father figure. I'm a big softy and they all come to me to play and jump on me," he says. "A lot of children don't see their dads. Many men work long hours or are away on business, and some children just have a single parent: mum."

Providing a male role model for young children is a key reason why the Government wants to encourage more men into the child care profession. As part of National Child Care Week - which leads up to Father's Day on Sunday - a conference is being held today, in London, entitled He Who Cares Wins, on men who care for children.

At local level, City of York Council is trying to recruit more men into child care jobs, while York College provides a range of courses leading to careers in this burgeoning industry.

There are only a few men in York working in this field, although it is hoped their presence may encourage others to follow suit.

Carolyn Clarke, recruitment officer in the early years and child care department of City of York Council, runs the regular Making Choices course offering people a taster of what a career in child care might offer. She said: "We have had some success. Because of one man working in a creche, we have had another come along and say he would like to do it."

To spread the word further, Carolyn plans to take some male child-care workers into schools and to meet men's groups.

She says the rise of the new dad in tandem with the new professionalism of the child care industry has made working with children more appealing and acceptable to men.

"People used to think of child care as a women's job, but it is now seen as a profession which requires a qualification. Men want to make a difference and feel they can help with the development of a child," she said.

Lindy Illingworth, of the child studies department at York College, says there are good, well-paid careers to be made in child care, but society needs to be more accepting of men working in this field.

She said: "The profession desperately wants to employ more men, but there is a stigma attached to men working with children which comes from families and peers. The perception is 'why do men want to work with children?', which is one of the barriers we have to break. If we can get more men working in child care it will snowball."

Gavin Sullivan, 22, of Heworth, took part in the city council's Making Choices course and now works in various creches across the city and at an after-school club in Holgate. In September he will start a diploma in play work at York College.

He said: "The first experience I really had of working with children was with my niece Chloe, who is now six. I seemed to be able to build relationships with children. Before, I went from job to job. I worked at Flamingo Land and was a postman, but I really enjoy working with children.

"My family are pleased I have finally found something I enjoy. Some men think it's a soft job and they are too butch to do it, but it doesn't have to be like that. It's a good job: I spend time with kids, take part in games and bring them on and I enjoy being part of their lives. I find it really rewarding and want it to be my career."

Graham Mackfall, 21, of Holgate, works as an assistant at Happy Jay's day nursery at Clifton Moor. He is doing a three-year course at York College which will qualify him to work as a nursery nurse, teaching assistant, childminder or nanny and believes he has found his vocation. He doesn't mind the fact that he is the sole male both at college and work.

"I've never been treated differently from any of the women," he says. And parents are impressed too, he adds. "A couple of parents have said it is fantastic to have a male in the nursery because it is important to have a male role model."

The reaction of friends has varied from 'odd' to 'interesting', says Gavin, but the question he gets asked a lot is 'what is it like working with all those women?'

"Women like to talk about more private stuff than men," he replies. "I don't have anyone to talk to about general stuff like what I've been doing on a night out. Women talk about completely different things. You just get used to it."

For more information about the Making Choices course, contact Carolyn Clarke on 01904 554444. For details about child care courses at York College, contact the Child Studies team on 01904 770264.

Updated: 09:16 Tuesday, June 10, 2003