'Our group gives dads somewhere to turn'

As a young father, 22-year-old Gordy Rudge knew he wanted to help other dads but felt stuck, floating between customer service jobs that left him feeling unfulfilled.

When the opportunity came up to apply to be a "dad co-ordinator" for a local support group, he jumped at the chance, eventually securing the role.

Telford Dads, funded by Telford & Wrekin Council, offers weekly chat meet-ups and activities as well as one-to-one sessions and specialist support groups for fathers.

"Dads often get overlooked - understandably, most of us put on a strong front... dads need somewhere to go to and someone to turn to," he said.

Telford Dads is run by local charity Challenging Perceptions.

In his role, Rudge runs the groups and connects with the men that attend and believes his lived experience helps give them the support they need.

He is father of an eight-month-old daughter, and he and his partner care for her 14-year-old sister.

"It's amazing, and it's the best thing I've ever done, but it's also the hardest and most stressful thing I've ever done," he said on fatherhood.

"I remember when me and my partner had our baby; we were in the recovery room, and the nurse gave my partner all the leaflets, which was brilliant.

"I asked, 'Is there anything I can access?' and she said, 'Not really'.

"It was heartbreaking to hear... it's the same story out here with a lot of the dads I work with; they don't know this service is out there."

Carl Bailey, chief executive of Challenging Perceptions, is a parent to a disabled child.

"I'm really passionate, being a dad myself, that dads don't get enough support," he said.

He explained that the group was more than just the weekly meet-ups.

"We've got a whole range of other stuff. We've got a law firm coming in soon to do a pro-bono workshop on legal rights for dads and a dads podcast, young dad groups, and a SEND dads group."

Fathers can also be signposted to other services if they need professional help.

On the group, Rudge added: "I didn't think it would make me feel the way I do.

"It's my every waking thought, and I'm always thinking of what more that I can do for dads.

"Seeing them come in - sometimes happy, sometimes sad - seeing them leave happier, it makes me feel happy."

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