Being a Dad is life changingly brilliant, but it can also be isolating, stressful, and confusing at times.
There are lots of groups out there aimed at helping Dads, or Men in general, but the problem is, they aren’t always easy to find – especially if you aren’t sure what you are looking for.
That’s why I have pulled together this page of resources for Dads. It’s a collection of all the best organisations, groups, and communities that exist specifically to support people just like us.
So whether you’re struggling with something legal, feeling a bit lost and low on mental resilience, or you just want to connect with other blokes, this list is for you.
Mental Health
These organisations offer spaces for men and dads to talk about how they’re feeling, or simply sit alongside others who understand. Some are structured, some are informal, but all are about support without judgement.
Andy’s Man Club
Andy’s Man Club runs free, weekly groups for men across the UK, usually held in the evenings and open to anyone over 18. There’s no pressure to talk, no referrals needed, and no expectation to explain yourself. Sessions are peer-led rather than clinical, which can make them feel more approachable if you’re uncomfortable with formal mental health services. Many dads attend simply to listen at first and see how it feels.
Dad’s House
Dad’s House supports fathers who are dealing with separation, divorce, or major changes to family life. It provides a mixture of practical help and community support including free family law clinics, food bank provision, and peer support groups where dads can meet, talk and share experiences. Alongside this, the organisation runs activities such as football, yoga and social “Dads Table” sessions designed to help combat loneliness and build community, and offers services like drug and alcohol testing linked with wellbeing support. Its overarching aim is to help dads stay connected with their children and navigate challenging times with a stronger support network around them.
PANDAS Foundation
The PANDAS Foundation provides mental health support for parents during pregnancy and the first year after birth, with a dedicated section and services for dads. Fathers can access its helpline, online support, and resources if they’re struggling with anxiety, low mood, or feeling overwhelmed in the early stages of parenthood.
Dad Matters
Dad Matters is part of Home Start, aimed at dads during pregnancy and the early years of parenthood. It focuses on helping fathers feel more confident, informed, and emotionally connected at a time that can feel disorientating. Support is often delivered through local services, and it’s particularly relevant if you’re becoming a dad for the first time and finding the transition harder than expected.
Talk Club
A men-only mental health charity built around talking groups (in-person in various places, and online options too). The model is deliberately simple: you check in with a number (“How are you? Out of 10?”) and explain it, which can make it easier for men who hate the idea of “opening up” in a vague way. A good option if you want a structured chat that isn’t therapy, but also isn’t just banter.
Legal
Separation, child contact, and family law can be overwhelming, especially when emotions are already running high. The resources here focus on practical guidance and support for dads trying to navigate those difficult situations.
Fathers 4 Justice
Fathers 4 Justice is a campaigning organisation focused on family law and fathers’ rights, particularly around child contact after separation. It’s best known for advocacy rather than direct support, but some dads find value in its information and campaigning stance when they feel the legal system isn’t working in their favour.
Access 2 Children
Access 2 Children provides information and practical help for parents trying to maintain or regain contact with their children after separation. For dads who feel stuck, unsure, or overwhelmed by the process, it can be a starting point for understanding child contact issues and what support might be available.
Both Parents Matter (formerly Families Need Fathers)
Both Parents Matter focuses on helping separated parents navigate life after a relationship ends, particularly when children are involved. For dads, this often means guidance around child arrangements, communication with an ex-partner, and staying involved in your child’s life. It’s not a mental health service, but it can reduce stress by helping you understand your options and next steps.
Community
Not every problem needs fixing — sometimes you just need connection. These groups and communities are about bringing dads together, reducing isolation, and creating spaces where you don’t have to explain yourself.
The Dads Network
The Dads Network brings fathers together through peer support, activities, and shared experiences. Its focus is on reducing isolation and giving dads a space where they don’t have to explain or justify how they’re feeling. This can be particularly useful if you’re looking for connection rather than formal advice or therapy.
Dope Black Dads
Dope Black Dads is a UK-based community focused on creating space for honest conversations about Black fatherhood. While its original website is no longer active, the project continues primarily through the Dope Black Dads Podcast and social media, where dads discuss parenting, relationships, mental health, and identity. It’s accessible nationwide and may appeal to fathers looking for representation, shared experiences, and thoughtful discussion rather than formal support services.
Shoulder to Shoulder
Shoulder to Shoulder is a peer-led men’s community built around conversation and connection rather than formal support structures. It’s designed for men who want to talk, listen, or simply be around others without labels or pressure. This can appeal to dads who aren’t looking for therapy but don’t want to feel alone.
Gingerbread – Single Dads
Gingerbread supports single parents across the UK, including fathers raising children on their own. While it isn’t dad-specific in focus, it offers practical information, guidance, and reassurance that can be useful if you’re navigating single parenthood and want clear, reliable advice. There is one page specifically for Dads, too.
Dad La Soul
Dad La Soul is a community that uses social events and shared activities as a way to support dads’ mental health and reduce isolation. Rather than running traditional support groups, it focuses on creating relaxed, enjoyable spaces where men can spend time together, talk honestly, and build friendships without pressure. Events range from social nights for dads to activities involving children, with the aim of helping fathers feel less alone and more connected while navigating the realities of modern fatherhood.
Sport and Activities
For some men, talking is easier when you’re doing something. These organisations use sport, movement, or hands-on activity as a way to build routine, connection, and support without sitting in a circle and sharing feelings.
Dads v Dads
Dads v Dads uses sport, particularly football, as a way to bring fathers together and encourage connection. The emphasis isn’t on ability or competition, but on routine, camaraderie, and getting out of your own head for a while. It can suit dads who find it easier to open up alongside activity rather than in a sit-down setting.
Men Walking and Talking (MWAT)
Men Walking & Talking is exactly what it sounds like: men meeting up for a walk and a chat, with a clear focus on mental wellbeing and reducing isolation. It’s designed for lads who don’t want anything clinical or intense, and the “just turn up” feel can suit dads who need a nudge back into routine and social contact. Their site is built around finding (or even starting) a local group.
www.menwalkingandtalking.co.uk
UK Men’s Sheds
Men’s Sheds is a nationwide movement that brings men together through practical, hands-on activity rather than structured support or therapy. Local “sheds” offer shared workshop spaces where men can work on projects, fix things, or simply spend time around others with a purpose. The focus on doing something physical side-by-side can appeal to dads who struggle with sit-down talking groups but still want connection, routine, and a sense of belonging. Sheds operate independently, but the wider network makes it possible to find one in many parts of the UK.
With the Kids
These resources focus on spending time with your children alongside other dads and their kids too. They’re about shared experiences, building confidence as a dad, and enjoying being together. It’s less about “perfect parenting” and more about experiences, and not feeling like you’re doing it all on your own.
Dangerous Dads
Dangerous Dads is a nationwide network encouraging dads and male carers to spend active, meaningful time with their children. Activities vary by group but often involve shared challenges or outdoor experiences. It’s less about organised parenting and more about building memories and confidence together.
DadFest
DadFest is a UK-wide festival specifically for dads, father figures and their children. It is actually organised by the chaps at Dangerous Dads. It runs as a fun-filled weekend of outdoor activities designed to help families spend quality time together, with things like archery, campfire cooking, storytelling, Forest School-style games, discos, bat walks and chances to explore nature. The event has been running since 2014 and has expanded to multiple locations across the country, with all activities included in the ticket price and options for camping or day attendance.
Who Let The Dads Out?
Who Let The Dads Out? is a national network of local groups for dads, father figures and their children, offering regular, relaxed sessions with play and simple activities. It began within a church setting and some groups are still run by faith-based organisations, but sessions are generally open to all and focused on dads spending time with their kids while meeting other families. Groups are community-led and vary slightly, but the core aim is connection rather than instruction or parenting advice.