Dads like football, beer, barbecues and DIY. But deep inside, they may be struggling with a variety of issues, such as stress, depression and anxiety. Dadsnet combines the two together, allowing men to meet up with their peers, have a chat and enjoy a kickabout in a bid to reduce male depression and suicide in the Lancashire area.
When Graham Sims, of Preston, became a dad in 2016, he felt he needed advice and joined the international Dadsnet group.
The 39-year-old then created a local group which has been running for 18 months.
As well as starting a break-out Kickabout football meet-up in Kirkham, Blackburn, and more recently Lancaster, the Lancashire affiliation gives men a space to talk freely about their concerns.
It has also joined forces with Maternity Voices Partnerships, Better Births and the NHS maternity ward at Sharoe Green to help improve services and give dads a voice.
Graham, who has a two-year-old daughter Chloe and has been married to Nikki for seven years, says: “I came across Dadsnet when I became a father and needed advice.
“I joined the international group and got loads of helpful advice and chats. So I wanted to give back and so I became an admin and ambassador before setting up my local group.
“We are a peer to peer support group for dads only. We encourage dads to open up about combat stress, anxiety parental issues, social anxiety, depression and many more.
“Just under a year ago, I created Kickabout as a way to get dads out the house, make friends and get a bit fitter at the same time.
“We started with a couple of lads on a local park and grew in numbers, but we found paying for a nice pitch expensive.
“Then along came Team HQ, who saw what we were doing and wanted to help so they provided a sponsorship so we could play at a nice venue at mill farm in Kirkham and only pay a small fee towards it.
“Since then we have started a Kickabout in Blackburn and Lancaster and one will be starting in Wyre.
“We are also always looking for dads to join up and start their own local Kickabout to get more dads out.
“As well as that, we have meets scattered all over Lancashire.
“It’s a good feeling to have a social circle again, and hopefully get a little fitter in the process.”
For more information or to join, visit www.facebook.com/groups/TheDadsnetLancashire/ or www.thedadsnet.com
Read more: Preston man reveals how Dadsnet in Lancashire gave him hope after he became a single parent
A fuller version of this article first appeared in Lancashire Post (JPIMedia.) To read the full version visit https://www.lep.co.uk/news/people/here-is-how-dadsnet-supports-struggling-dads-in-lancashire-through-its-kickabout-football-sessions-in-kirkham-preston-and-lancaster-1-9909956
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