Fathers’ group gets lottery funding

Edinburgh-based charity Dads Rock, which provides support for fathers to bond with their children, has been awarded £287,096 by the Big Lottery Fund.
The parenting support group was formed in 2012 as a project of Fathers Network Scotland, and in March 2013 became a charity in its own right. The funding will allow it to expand its network of free playgroups for dads and their children. The project will create new playgroups, both in the community and within a prison setting, as well as a new counselling service and 
more father and child social outings.
Big Lottery Fund Scotland chair, Maureen McGinn, said: “Dads Rock knows exactly what support fathers need to be able to enjoy positive and rewarding relationships with their children. This funding will reach out to those men who might not otherwise have the confidence to attend a playgroup session or speak openly about their concerns as a parent. I’m delighted this investment will enable their work to expand, helping many more fathers to develop their confidence and self-esteem.”
A spokesman for Dads Rock said the award was “amazing” because it would allow the organisation to grow beyond its current activity in Edinburgh and Glasgow. “It will allow us to support so many more families, and give stability to our current playgroups. It will also allow us to employ staff and expand our services, by running playgroups during the week as well as the weekend, offering free counselling, working with young dads, and taking Dads Rock into the prison setting,” he said.
Dads Rock is one of nine groups receiving funding, totalling £4,566,678, from the Big Lottery Fund’s Investing in Communities fund. Others include Scottish Autism, the Royal National Institute for Blind People and PEEK - Possibilities for Each & Every Kid Ltd, which provides play rangers to promote outdoor play for children in Glasgow.