Dad Academy focus group

Fifteen of us met at the Methodist International Centre on Thursday. Most came from London but we weren't the only provincials. Nor was Den the only young dad. The meeting started with a general discussion about what it means to be a dad and went on to identify great ideas for groups of local fathers to do with their children. Den talked about his experience of Story Sacks in Swindon and it was humbling to hear about the wide range of other really creative projects that were going on elsewhere in the UK. Of particular interest to us was the baby massage programme in Lewisham where dads are being trained to run sessions for other dads, the comprehensive Dangerous Dads activities programme which has been developed in Devon, and the use of film animation in Birmingham. There's so much good stuff going on.

The Fatherhood Institute

We've been asked to take part in a Fatherhood Institute meeting in London on Thursday. Den and I will be going and we'll report what happens.