Now manager of the city's Gilmerton Children and Family Centre, he says, 'Currently, we have more men training in childcare through us in Edinburgh than there are in the whole of the rest of Scotland.'
When MiC started there were six men on childcare training courses in the city, but only one completed. Mr Spence says, 'We have an induction course which is totally accessible. The applicants tend not to be unemployed but people looking for a career change so we run it at a time when guys can get there. It runs for two hours in the evening over 16 weeks.'
MiC advertisements are aimed at men, says project co-ordinator Colin Chisholm. Their first poster was in the style of the First World War recruiting banner with Lord Kitchener pointing and saying 'We Want You!' It asked, 'Do you want to break the mould? Do you want to do something different? Do you want to do something rewarding and fulfilling?' Now a poster says, 'Children need men too.'
He admits, 'We have learned from our mistakes', such as not running an induction course the same night as Champions League football match.
The support network includes providing male mentors and offering meetings with college lecturers. On the financial side, all course fees are met and assistance is given to men wanting to study full time. Support continues as the men move into jobs.
