Where we started
After experiencing a period of mental ill health Paul Meadows, our founder, was unable to find any support for dads and male carers. In December 2014 , he initially set up Auty Dad which eventually was renamed as SENDS 4 Dad to incorporate all disabilities as they faced similar issues and isolation.
In April 2015, SENDS 4 Dad held it’s first social event and has grown since, supporting dads and male carers through covid and the financial crisis. Demand for the service has reached it’s highest and will only continue to do so.
Caring for a child with a disability and/or special educational need can present certain challenges throughout someone’s life. The vast majority of support groups are mainly aimed at mothers/female carers and those that are mixed generally do not allow fathers/male carers to feel comfortable enough to talk about their own situations.
Why we are here..
In the UK, men are three times as likely to die of suicide than women and the highest suicide rate is amongst men aged between 45 to 49. (Statistics 2018 – Samaritans)
It is hard to explain to anyone that does not have a child with special needs the types of strains and pressures that you experience in addition to those that are experienced by the majority of families. Financial issues are quite common amongst families as this may mean one partner has to give up employment to care for their child and there may be additional expenses for equipment, washing etc. Families tend to have to battle for support for their child and all of these are a strain on a family unit.
What we do
The main aims of our group is to :
• Provide social opportunities for dads/male carers to get together with people in similar circumstances
• Ensure members have access to social media avenues to discuss issues/celebrate successes
• Look at events for the family or for dads/male carers to bond with their children in an environment where there are other dads which makes them more comfortable in their environment.
Online
Through social media, we have Facebook pages for a general SENDS 4 Dad which shares any relevant information to families and then we have further pages for Northampton, Kettering and Corby.
We also do have a closed group for dads to join where they can discuss in private any issues, successes or seek advice from the members.
Alongside this we also have a Facebook chat group and a Whatsapp Group.
To join our distribution list please register here