The Parenting Network (TPN) is providing a dedicated space and support programme for dads and male carers from armed forces families in the Portsmouth area. Dadzchat sessions, funded through our Hidden Voices programme, enable military dads to share their experiences and develop tools in response to trauma and the challenges of parenthood which may be affecting their mental health or that of their family.
TPN were seeing large numbers of military dads attending their existing groups and this highlighted the need for a bespoke military programme. CEO and Founder, Matt Foster, explains: “We listen, and we evolve organically depending on the conversations that we’re having with the community. In this instance it was the military community, so we’ve combined all the skills that we have, and we’ve created a bespoke military Dadzchat service.”
There will be weekly sessions run by newly recruited TPN Dadzclub Coordinator Neil Campbell and delivered with partner organisation support from ‘Save a Warrior’ and NHS Talking Therapies, who offer dedicated referral pathways for dads accessing TPN’s services.
Matt told us: “Neil is a military veteran who spent 24 years in the Navy as an aircraft engineer. He’s also a dad. He’s already making all sorts of connections with welfare officers and other communities. We’re hitting the ground running.”
TPN’s new bespoke centre in Portsmouth, The Forge, is due to open mid-May 2025 and Matt hopes it will become a ‘safe space’ for those seeking support: “What’s really important is that we have this safe, welcoming space where they know that they can go and seek that support, not just in the weekly Dadzchat sessions, but also knowing they’ve got this community around them and a safe place where they can go at any time.”
The Forge will be a comfortable and inviting space to help reduce barriers and the stigma of accessing mental health support. While the project is targeted at military dads, Matt adds: “Should a military mum turn up, we’re still going to open that space because we’re never going to turn anyone in need away. We want it to be as inclusive as we possibly can for the military community.”
