ABOUT US

Where we started

  We are a community group that has been running since 2015 supporting dads/male carers that have a child with special educational needs and/or a disability. 
Caring for a child with a disability and/or special 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 do this

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. 
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