‘Being a dad can be lonely at times,’ says group set up to support fathers

Members meet every Sunday for what they describe as “Dadventures” at locations across Northern Ireland

A Belfast-based group that supports fathers through outdoor activities and peer support is marking Father’s Day with a special camping weekend to help young dads strengthen their relationships with their children.

DadBods NI, which was established in 2022, is hosting the event this weekend, culminating in a family walk at Crawfordsburn Country Park on Sunday.

The organisation was founded to encourage fathers to spend quality time with their children and has grown from a small walking group into a charity supporting dads from across Belfast and beyond. Members meet every Sunday for what they describe as “Dadventures” at locations across Northern Ireland.

Founder Col Bignell said the group had evolved significantly since its beginnings.

“We’re just a group of dads that started out as a simple walk on a Sunday, and we’ve since developed into a charity,” he said.

“We’ve found that we have built better bonds with our children through this group. We’ve really connected and become a community which has really had positive impacts on our mental health.

“This weekend we decided to organise a DadBods camp and will be having a full family walk on Sunday at Crawfordsburn to celebrate Father’s Day.”

The group recently received its first major funding award through Save the Children Northern Ireland’s Innovation Fund, which awarded grants of £5,000 to 10 community projects as part of work with the Eastside Early Learning Community.

DadBods NI plans to use the funding to develop a series of workshops designed to build skills and confidence among new fathers.

Group member Philip Brady, who will lead the workshops, said becoming a parent can often feel isolating.

“I’m a dad, I have a one-and-a-half-year-old little boy and I know the importance of building that connection with him,” he said.

“I want to help other dads build their confidence and connections because it’s hard to do in isolation. Being a dad can be lonely at times and wanting to do your best while you’re working or whatever that looks like for you, it’s really important to have that community.”

The new programme is intended to provide practical support and create opportunities for fathers to connect with others facing similar challenges, while continuing the organisation’s focus on strengthening family relationships and supporting mental wellbeing.

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