OUR STORY

Dads Group was first established in 2015 as part of an intervention aimed at supporting the family members of children with additional needs.  The service was being utilised by lots of the mothers and the same service had set up a siblings group but they were concerned that fathers were missing out on accessing the same levels of support.  

I joined Dads Group as a dad myself.  At the time I had a 17 year old autistic child who we had managed to get through some challenging times and so I joined Dads Group to pass on some of the knowledge I had picked up along the way. 

My working life had also given me the opportunity to work with a huge number of children, young people and families from various backgrounds and with a vast array of different concerns including many who had autistic children, children with ADHD and other issues, including mental health concerns, attachment issues, substance misuse issues, criminal behaviours and the list could easily go on and on. 

After a few years, the group facilitator asked me to take over the running of the group as they felt it was far better for the group to be run by someone who had a similar lived experience to the group members.  So for the last 3 years I have been running the group with the continued support of Serennu Children's Centre, and the Helping Hands Service.  

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Dads Group has supported a number of dads and even a grandad since it's commencement and it is our hope that we continue to do so for many years to come.