How You Can Help Children by Voting For Dads Rock This September

At Dads Rock we support and inspire Dads to have the strongest relationships they can with their children to provide a great start in life. Many Dads feel that existing parenting support systems focus on Mums only. We want Dads to be equal when it comes to raising children, so we provide learning opportunities, advice and support. Activities focus on the physical and emotional health of families, helping them to form strong relationships. Self-esteem in both Dads and their children improves, children will grow up feeling supported by their Dads, and families feel less isolated. 

Who Are Dads Rock? 

Dads Rock was set up by two dads who couldn’t find any parenting support that didn’t focus on the mother. It started with a Saturday playgroup for Dads and children in Edinburgh and currently provides a variety of support to over 2000 Dads, Mums and Children each year. We work with families to improve the lives of children, many of whom are at risk of marginalisation, including working in deprived areas to reach the ones who need our support the most. 

Following the pandemic we are finding that the mental health of Dads is of most concern. A recent study revealed that almost half (48%) of all dads with children 2 years and under rated their mental health as ‘very poor’ or ‘not great’.  

What Services Do Dads Rock Offer?

They offer several services for families with a focus on Dads, who often feel excluded from parenting services. This includes: 

• Young Dads Project 

We work with families living in the most deprived areas of Glasgow and Edinburgh with over 60% of our Young Dads living in poverty. All of our services are free and accessible to all Dads and families regardless of marital status, nationality and including gay, trans and non-binary. Our early years work aims to break the cycle of transgenerational trauma, where experiences and emotions are passed down from one generation to the next. We take the time to understand our Dads lived experiences and help them make changes in their parenting of the next generation.

There are around 1,350 teenage Dads in Glasgow and Edinburgh every year yet we are one of only a handful of organisations that directly support them. Men disproportionally account for a range of social issues in Scotland; approx. 95% of the prison population, 75% of all suicides and boys are three times more likely to be excluded from school than girls. A recent study revealed that 30% of children in Glasgow on the child protection register are there due to poor parental mental health, an increase from 14% prior to covid-19.

We work alongside the Young Dads to help increase their confidence and develop their ability to care for their children and become better fathers. We work with families on a one to one basis with the aim of helping vulnerable babies and young children to have the best possible start in life.  

• New Dad Support

Becoming a Dad is a huge life change, it throws up all sorts of questions and makes you think about what kind of Dad you can be. It can be both emotionally and physically draining, especially in the early years.

PS Dads Rock was set up in response to our families telling us they couldn’t find appropriate help. It’s Scotland's only national provision for new dads and dads-to-be who are experiencing low mood, anxiety or depression, having difficulty bonding with their baby, struggling with relationships or feeling isolated. We match new Dads with highly-trained peer support volunteers, who are more experienced Dads, giving them access to emotional support during this life changing time. We are also one of the few organisations raising awareness of Perinatal Depression in men.

The PS Dads Rock service gives Dads access to support where they can safely talk about their mental health. Most Dads we worked with have said how important it is that the volunteer they speak to is outside of their immediate support bubble. This has allowed them to be honest about how they are coping without placing that emotional burden on their partners, many of whom are also struggling or have struggled with their own mental health.

• Workshops

Parenting workshops provide opportunities for parents to come together, learn and meet other families going through the same experiences.

Our trained family workers will deliver the workshops free of charge and over the period of 12 months, we will aim to deliver 18 antenatal workshops. This will include 8 first aid workshops; and 6 hair workshops in person in Edinburgh and Glasgow. Online we will offer 4 sleep workshops; 4 breastfeeding and a Raising Children with Confidence 6 week course.

The workshops include discussion and practical help for Dads and Mums to learn new skills enabling them to provide better care for their children. They also give families a chance to share their challenges and their successes – learning from each other and sharing parenting ideas from their own cultures. 

• Dad Groups and Trips

Each year we offer a safe, inclusive space for 490 dads/male carers and kids to form stronger attachments. We offer Dads playgroups and Dad and Baby groups providing a stigma-free environment where fathers and children can connect. Dads gain valuable knowledge on childcare, whilst engaging with their kids in activities like drawing, storytelling, and outdoor play, help develop good parent-child relationships. Every month we organise a free or low cost trip for Dads to have some fun with their children, doing something different and making memories.

• Dads Community

We know that better outcomes can be achieved for children when their parents are properly supported. One of the main ways we support parent’s mental health is through our WhatsApp groups. Families have a chance to share their challenges and their successes – learning from each other and sharing parenting ideas from their own cultures. We currently have over 600 members in our WhatsApp groups which give parents safe spaces where they can ask questions of their peers and support each other. 

Examples of discussions recently include conversations about what to expect from behaviours at different ages with one Dad asking about throwing food off the table and another about snatching toys off other kids; we’ve had discussions around planning days out with the kids; relationship advice; some great peer encouragement for single Dads; and sometimes the groups are used to organise meet ups. Group members and our moderators are able to offer their own experiences and reassure each other that they are not the only ones going through these experiences with their families. 

How Can I Help Dads Rock?

The best way to support Dads Rock right now is by voting for them in our September charity poll - it's free, it's easy and you just need to click the circle next to Dads Rock..

You can also support them through Fundraising, Donating or Volunteering your time for this worthy cause. 

How Can I Contact Dads Rock?

You can get in touch with the team via email at hello@dadsrock.org.uk or give them a call on 07807 498709. Visit The Forward Trust website to find out more about this incredible charity.