Dad Matters
Dad Matters
What is Dad Matters and who is it for?
Dad Matters is a support service dedicated to helping fathers who are expecting, adjusting to life with a new baby, or who have experienced baby loss. We provide assistance to dads dealing with anxiety, stress, and mental health issues. We aim to help with improve coping mechanisms and fostering positive family relationships.
Who can benefit from Dad Matters support?
Dad Matters supports fathers whose partners are expecting or who have a baby under 2 years old. We provide assistance with attachment, mental health, and accessing relevant services in collaboration with maternity, health visiting, and early years support services.
What kind of support does Dad Matters offer?
We offer a range of support services tailored to the needs of dads, including assistance with understanding their emotions, coping strategies for difficult situations, and guidance on accessing appropriate services. Additionally, we work with hospitals, health teams, and other organisations across Kirklees to increase awareness and engagement among dads.
How can I volunteer with Dad Matters?
If you’re interested in volunteering with Dad Matters, you can contribute as an outreach volunteer or a group support facilitator. Outreach volunteers engage dads at events and in maternity settings, while group support facilitators lead discussions in partnership with antenatal groups. For more information on volunteering opportunities, please send us your details via the contact form.
Outreach work (places to be announced)
We aim to engage with dads to distribute information and resources on attachment and bonding, supporting both parent’s mental health and signposting to other useful appropriate services for further support.
One-to One support
Dads can get 1:1 support with our Co-ordinator to talk, explore options, access support and resources for yourself and the rest of the family.
New Dads Workshop
Join Dad Matters for a FREE online workshop for dads-to-be and new dads with babies under 12 weeks old. During this online video session, we will talk about our three key topics; Attachment and Bonding, Mum’s and Dad’s Mental Health and Wellbeing and Access to Appropriate Services
Services
if you would like to know more go to our New Dads Workshop page by clicking this button.
Find out more
To find more online information for dads online, please visit our National and Regional sites
Dad Matters UK
View moreDad Matters Yorkshire
View moreDad Matters Yorkshire Website: Dad Matters Yorkshire – Supporting dads to get the best from their parenting journey
Useful Contacts
Maternity Services Calderdale and Huddersfield Foundation NHS Trust
View more- Antenatal Clinic – 01422 224580
- Calderdale Birth Centre – 01422 224417
- Early Pregnancy Assessment Unit (under 16 weeks pregnant) – 01422 224415
- Labour ward – 01422 222129
- Maternity Assessment Centre – 01422 224392
- Maternity Reception (Appointments) – 01422 224125
- Ultrasound Scan Department – 01422 224473
- Ward 4C – Antenatal and Induction of Labour – 01422 224925
- Ward 4B – Transitional Care – 01422 222147
- Ward 4A -Post-Natal and Selective C-Section – 01422 224249.
- Antenatal Clinic/Reception HRI – 01484 342666
- Antenatal & Newborn Screening – 01422 222123
- Breastfeeding Support – 01484 344345
- Community Midwifery Enquiry Line – 01484 355754
Mid-Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust Dewsbury
View more- Community Midwives Admin Team: 01924 319354
- Antenatal Day Unit: 01924 816104
- Bronte Birth Centre: 01924 319152
Mid-Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust Pinderfields
View more- Maternity Triage 01924 543006 /543002
- Community Midwives 01924 543424
- Antenatal Clinic: 01924 541112
- Antenatal Day Unit: 01924 541110
Antenatal Clinic: 01924 541112 - Pinderfields Birth Centre: 01924 543004 / 543005
Labour Ward (gate 18a): 01924 541661 - Gate 18 (Antenatal/Postnatal Ward): 01924 541693 / 541689
Info for Dads
View moreBelow are links for various organisations, either nationally or local to Kirklees, who could provide support. If you have any questions or would like more specific support, please email [email protected].
Kirklees Talking Therapies
View moreGet support with your mental health and emotional wellbeing, stress, worry, low mood, fears.
- www.southwestyorkshire.nhs.uk/services/kirklees-talking-therapies/
- Emergency Fire Police NHS 999
- Samaritans: 116 123
- Mental Health Advice & Support line 0800138 0990
- Non Emergency – NHS 111 Police 101
Antenatal Courses and events
View more- Huddersfield: https://whatsonmaternity.cht.nhs.uk/
- Dewsbury: https://bit.ly/MYantenatalclass
- All Areas: Solihull Approach | inourplace | Understanding your child
Asylum Seekers and Refugees
View more- City of Sanctuary: Our networks are made up of thousands of ordinary people all around the country who are stepping up to support people seeking sanctuary in our communities. City of Sanctuary UK coordinates, supports and grows these networks of welcome. https://cityofsanctuary.org/
- I-ask: We’re a dedicated, multicultural team of experts helping people navigate their asylum journey in Kirklees. https://i-ask.co.uk/
Bereavement, Miscarriage, Loss and Trauma.
View more- Forget-Me-Not Children’s Hospice: https://www.forgetmenotchild.co.uk/
- Martin House Children’s Hospice: https://www.martinhouse.org.uk/
- Talkthru: Huddersfield-based counselling for baby loss and pregnancy-related issues. https://www.talkthru.org.uk/
- Sands: We work to save babies’ lives and ensure that, when a baby does die, anyone affected gets the support and care they need. https://www.sands.org.uk/
- Tommy’s: We’re the leading charity stopping the heartbreak and devastation of baby loss and making pregnancy and birth safe – for everyone. https://www.tommys.org/about-us
- AtaLoss: Helping bereaved people find support and wellbeing. https://www.ataloss.org/about/what-we-do
- Cruse Bereavement Support: You don’t have to deal with it alone. https://www.cruse.org.uk/
- Baby Loss Awareness Week: Baby Loss Awareness Week is an opportunity to bring us together as a community and give anyone touched by pregnancy and baby loss a safe and supportive space to share their experiences and feel that they are not alone. https://babyloss-awareness.org/
- Child Bereavement UK: We help children, young people, parents and families to rebuild their lives when a child grieves or when a child dies. https://www.childbereavementuk.org/
- The Lullaby Trust: The Lullaby Trust exists to keep babies safe and to keep grieving families supported. https://www.lullabytrust.org.uk/
- Spoons: Supporting the whole family from admission to the neonatal unit and beyond. https://spoons.org.uk/
- Rainbow Clinic. The rainbow service is offered to pregnant women who have experienced previous pregnancy loss after 16 weeks, or the death of their baby. https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=1149264759007513&id=197443877522944&set=a.201790467088285&locale=en_GB
Better Living Services
View moreKirklees Wellness Service: Our service aim is for people living healthier, happier lives and feeling more able to look after themselves. We support adults 18 years+ on a one-to-one basis to develop personally tailored health and wellbeing goals. Wellness Coaches work with people using motivational interviewing and health coaching techniques to refine goals and plan change.
Crying babies – support and guidance
View more- Cry-sis: Support for parents with crying and sleepless babies. https://www.cry-sis.org.uk/
- ICON: When babies cry it can be stressful and overwhelming. Help is out there and all you need to do is ask. https://iconcope.org/
- Locala: Health visiting 0-19 service. https://www.locala.org.uk/services/kirklees-0-19-service/0-5/health-visiting
Dad Groups:
View more- Jubilee Melody Dads: https://www.thebranch.uk/project/jubilee-melody-dads/
- The Nest, Dads Stay and Play: https://www.nestholmfirth.co.uk/timetable
- DigiDad: Created by the young dads of North East Young Dads and Lads, DigiDAD is a unique online peer support community. Packed full of easy to access father friendly films, animations, podcasts, courses and even a chat function, we celebrate young fatherhood without shying away from its challenges. https://digidad.uk/
Domestic Abuse
View more- Pennine Domestic Abuse Partnership: https://pdap.co.uk/
- Women Centre: https://womencentre.org.uk/
- Respect: https://www.respect.org.uk/
- Dads Unlimited: Dads Unlimited supports the emotional safety of men and those they care about through three key areas; supporting male victims of domestic abuse, supporting men with family separation, and supporting men’s mental health https://www.dadsunltd.org.uk/
Early Years Support
View more- Healthier Together: Improving the health of babies, children and young people throughout West Yorkshire. https://wyhealthiertogether.nhs.uk/
- Locala: Health visiting 0-19 service. https://www.locala.org.uk/services/kirklees-0-19-service/0-5/health-visiting
- Aunty Pam’s. Supporting you, your baby and your family. https://www.kirklees.gov.uk/beta/auntie-pams/index.aspx
Feeding
View more- Support with the cost of Food: Kirklees cost of living support to keep you and your family healthy. https://www.kirklees.gov.uk/beta/cost-of-living/food-support.aspx
- Mothers & Others Guide: To pregnancy, feeding and Parenting https://www.mothersguide.co.uk/
- Better Health, Start for Life: The place for trusted NHS advice and guidance to help you have a healthy and happy baby during pregnancy, birth and parenthood. https://www.nhs.uk/start-for-life/
- Better Health, Healthier Families: Here to help you and your family eat better and move more. https://www.nhs.uk/healthier-families/
Financial Support
View more- Cost of Living Support: https://www.kirklees.gov.uk/beta/cost-of-living/index.aspx
- Aunty Pam’s. Supporting you, your baby and your family. https://www.kirklees.gov.uk/beta/auntie-pams/index.aspx
- Kirklees Citizens Advice and Law Centre: https://kcalc.org.uk/
- Citizen’s Advice: National advice for England. https://www.citizensadvice.org.uk/
- StepChange Debt Charity: Start getting your finances back on track. https://www.stepchange.org/
Mental Health:
View more- Platform 1: Mental health counselling and support in Huddersfield. https://platform-1.co.uk/
- Kirklees Talking Therapies: https://kirklees-talkingtherapies.nhs.uk/
- Men Walking and Talking: Giving men a safe space to open up about their mental health and support each other. https://www.menwalkingandtalking.co.uk/walks/huddersfield-walk/
- Andy Man’s Club: https://andysmanclub.co.uk/
- Calm: We’re the suicide prevention charity on a mission to help people end their misery, not their lives. https://www.thecalmzone.net/
- Mind: https://www.mind.org.uk/
- Sane: We are an independent mental health charity aiming to raise awareness, improve services, provide emotional supportand host research. https://www.sane.org.uk/
- Shout: Shout is the UK’s first and only free, confidential, 24/7 text messaging service for anyone who is struggling to cope. https://giveusashout.org/about-us/about-shout/
- Healthier Together: Dads and partners also need help, advice and support during pregnancy. https://wyhealthiertogether.nhs.uk/parentscarers/emotional-wellbeing-and-mental-health/dads-partners
Multiple Birth Groups
View more- Twins Trust. We support twins, triplets and more. https://twinstrust.org/
- Bliss: Babies in a multiple pregnancy are much more likely to experience some level of additional care in hospital after birth, known as ‘special’ or ‘neonatal’ care. https://www.bliss.org.uk/parents/about-your-baby/multiple-birth
Post-Natal Illness
View more- West Yorkshire Paths: A specialist service for women and birthing people and their partners who are experiencing emotional distress and mental health needs from reproductive trauma. https://www.southwestyorkshire.nhs.uk/services/paths/
- Perinatal Mental Health Team. Specialise in the assessment, diagnosis and treatment of women affected by moderate to severe mental health problems during and after pregnancy. https://www.southwestyorkshire.nhs.uk/services/perinatal-mental-health-team/
- Kirklees Talking Therapies: https://kirklees-talkingtherapies.nhs.uk/
- Talkthru. We offer dedicated help for partners, recognising the unique challenges you may face with pregnancy loss, difficult decisions or birth trauma, both in processing your own emotions and in supporting your partner through difficult times. https://www.talkthru.org.uk/support-for-partners
- Action on Postpartum Psychosis: Supporting and advocating for mums and families affected by postpartum psychosis (PP) – a severe but treatable mental illness that begins in the days and weeks after giving birth. https://www.app-network.org/
- Association for Postnatal Illness: You are not alone, get in touch for some friendly advice, or just to talk through how you’re feeling. https://apni.org/
- PANDAS is a community offering peer-to-peer support for you, your family and your network. https://pandasfoundation.org.uk/
Relationships
View more- Relationship Matters: Helping families and couples (whether together or separated) understand and build healthy relationships. https://relationshipsmatter.org.uk/
- Relate: whether it’s your relationship with a partner, a child, a family member or anyone else – we help everyone to build better relationships https://www.relate.org.uk/
- Dads Unlimited: Dads Unlimited supports the emotional safety of men and those they care about through three key areas; supporting male victims of domestic abuse, supporting men with family separation, and supporting men’s mental health https://www.dadsunltd.org.uk/
- Both Parents Matter: We work to create societal attitudes toward shared parenting and lasting change in family law—helping to build stronger families, healthier communities, and a more efficient support system for separated families. https://bothparentsmatter.org.uk/
- YFMS, Yorkshire Family Mediation Service: We specialise in delivering family mediation to help you resolve outstanding issues following your relationship breakdown. https://www.yfms.co.uk/
- Gingerbread: Support for single parents. https://www.gingerbread.org.uk/
S.E.N.D.
View more- Kirklees Local Offer: Information, services and activities for young people 0-25 with Special Educational needs and Disabilities (SEND). https://www.kirkleeslocaloffer.org.uk/
- Kirklees Council, Special Educational Needs: Guidance notes, documents and forms. https://www.kirklees.gov.uk/beta/working-with-children/special-education-documents.aspx
- KIAS, Kirklees Information Advice and Support Service: For children and young people with Special Educational Needs and / or Disabilities and their parents or carers. https://www.kias.org.uk/
- Kirklees Early Years Solutions: Support for early years special educational needs
We work with children who are presenting with complex learning needs and/or developmental delay aged between 0 to 5. https://www.kirkleesearlyyearssolutions.co.uk/Page/13242
- PCAN: Parents of children with additional needs making a difference in Kirklees. https://www.pcankirklees.org/
- Autism Research institute: https://autism.org/
- National Portage Association: Offering a framework of support that respects each family and their own individual priorities. https://www.portage.org.uk/
- Kirklees adult learning and disability health service: A community health service for people with learning disabilities who need support to improve health and wellbeing. https://www.southwestyorkshire.nhs.uk/services/kirklees-adult-learning-disability-health-service/
- Mencap: Mencap in Kirklees, supporting people with a learning disability. https://mencapinkirklees.org.uk/about-us/
- Carers Count: Carers Count is a not for profit organisation that supports unpaid carers within Kirklees. https://carerscount.org.uk/resources/learning-difficulties
Sleeping
View more- The Lullaby Trust: Safer Sleep information. https://www.lullabytrust.org.uk/baby-safety/safer-sleep-information/
- The Sleep Charity: Quality sleep is essential for children’s growth and development. https://thesleepcharity.org.uk/information-support/children/
Stop Smoking
View more- Kirklees Wellness Service: Whether you’re quitting smoking for the first time, or you’ve tried before without success, we’re here to help you succeed. https://kirkleeswellnessservice.co.uk/service/stop-smoking/
- NHS Kirklees Stopping Smoking: https://www.kirkleesccg.nhs.uk/your-health/health-campaigns/stopping-smoking/
- NHS Better Health, Quit Smoking: https://www.nhs.uk/better-health/quit-smoking/
Substance Use – Support
View more- Change, Grow, Live: Drug and alcohol service Kirklees. https://www.changegrowlive.org/drug-alcohol-kirklees/huddersfield
- Kirklees in Recovery: Recovery from addiction- help and support. https://kirkleesinrecovery.com/
- Frank: Helpline for anyone concerned about drug or solvent misuse. Advice and information for drug misusers, their families, friends, carers. https://www.talktofrank.com/
- Release: Free and confidential drugs helpline that also provides free legal advice on drug issues for people who use drugs and their families. https://www.release.org.uk/
- Addaction: Addaction provide a free, confidential webchat service to those in need of addiction support or for their families. https://www.wearewithyou.org.uk/
- Family Anonymous: Telephone helpline and other support services for families and friends of drug users. Throughout UK there are around 50 groups offering help and support to members via a 12 step programme. https://famanon.org.uk/
