Dads Rock in North Ayrshire
Calling all North Ayrshire Dads!
Did you know that 20% of dads say that their friendships have decreased in the 12 months of becoming a father? (Movember, 2019). Over 14% of fathers say their mental health has declined significantly during the perinatal stage, and so it is important in this pivotal time to get dads meeting with each other, discussing issues, and building friendships and connections. We were approached by the NHS Ayrshire and Arran Health Board as they understood that this was particularly lacking in North Ayrshire. From these conversations Dads Rock is now working with the North Ayrshire Health and Social Care Partnership to provide much needed support to Dads in North Ayrshire.
In a first of its kind partnership our Dads Rock worker is embedded in the Universal Early Years’ team with funding from the Scottish Government Whole Family Wellbeing Fund. We’re helping Dads and families to be the best that they can be by supporting them to give their children the best possible start in life. This means working with Health Visiting, Midwifery and Social Work to provide bespoke 1-1 support for dads and their families at home and in the communities of the Saltcoats, Stevenston and Ardrossan, with a view to supporting the whole of North Ayrshire in time.
A key part of this work is the new North Ayrshire Baby Group for Dads led by Ryan, our Dads Worker. After speaking to local dads, community partners and Health and Social Care partners we recognised that there needed to be a place for Dads to come together and share their experiences of growing as parents. Though Ryan provides the group it’s the openness and care for one another that drives the group and creates the supportive atmosphere of the group. Ryan says: “The role has been extremely rewarding, right from day one. I’ve got over 10 years experience in family support work, most of which was creating Dads support in Glasgow and so I really feel like I’m right where i need to be. I like that every day is different and I get to create amazing connections for dads. So many of them don’t have a pathway when they’re struggling, and the NHS can find it difficult to design services around dads support needs- so by being a Dads Worker, these dads can connect to NHS resources through me and get the advice and support they need, meet other dads and build great connections”.
“We know that dads will do anything for their children so the group is pitched more as a baby group for dads, rather than just a ‘dads group’ for a reason. It’s a great way for Dads to explore how babies grow and develop, but it's also a really good way for dads to meet other dads and learn from one another”.
The North Ayrshire Baby Group takes part every Wednesday at 6:30pm in Stevenston. You can sign up here.