National network supporting dads launched in Totnes

A new national organisation for community dads' groups has been launched in Totnes.

The Dads' Network is a national membership organisation for all community dads' groups in England, Wales, and Northern Ireland. Its aim is to support everyone who runs a community dads' group by providing advice and ideas while advocating for these groups on a national level.

Dr. Ian Blackwell, Founder and Coordinator of The Dads' Network, said: "We are delighted to launch The Dads' Network here at the Daisy Family Centre in Totnes. It was here in 2007, 18 years ago, that I first met with staff to discuss how to encourage more dads to use the services offered by the Family Centre. That meeting sparked the idea for a dads' group, and since then, we have run fun activities for father figures and their children every month.

"The dads' group in Totnes was such a great success, with dozens of dads and children attending each month, that other towns began asking what made the Daisy Centre so popular with local dads. This led me to start advising children's centres, schools, charities, and voluntary and community organisations on how to set up their own dads' groups. To meet the growing interest in dads' work, we established The Dads' Network in 2017 as a social enterprise to support dads' groups nationwide."

The organisation also started running DadFest in 2014, an annual gathering for dads and children that welcomes over 200 people to Beeson, Kingsbridge, each September.

This event is also home to the World Dad Dancing Championships.

The Dads' Network has expanded significantly since then, and DadFest now takes place in almost every region of the country, including Devon, Derbyshire, and Sussex, with new festivals planned for Abergavenny, Wales, in August and Bridlington, East Yorkshire, in May. With five festivals scheduled this year, the organisation expects around 1,000 fathers and children to attend.

Crispian Roderick, better known as Rodders, Chair of the Board for The Dads' Network CIC, said: "The Dads' Network is a Community Interest Company and a social enterprise, meaning every pound we receive goes directly into supporting fathers and children. I feel incredibly grateful to be part of an amazing board that voluntarily helps Ian oversee the network."

"We are thrilled to officially launch The Dads' Network as the membership organisation for all community dads' groups in England and Wales. There are over 200 dads' groups across the UK doing fantastic work to support all father figures, regardless of their background, life experiences, or parental status."

"Our new website features a fantastic tool—a map where fathers and families can locate their local dads' group. We've already mapped over 100 groups, with more being added weekly. There's also a members' section, offering a wealth of resources to help group leaders manage and promote their dads' groups effectively."

"We are excited to announce a £20,000 investment by The Dads' Network CIC, funded by the National Lottery Awards for All, to support activities for fathers and children in the South West, South East, and North West of England over the next two years. This funding will specifically support activities addressing the ongoing cost of living crisis that continues to impact many families."

For more information, visit www.thedadsnetwork.org.