Dads say response to support club is 'overwhelming'

Two dads who live in Beeston have said the response they received after setting up a club to help men manage the challenges of fatherhood has been "overwhelming".

Naeem and Shuabe, who are both from South Africa, founded Notts Dads Club to help create a space where dads could meet up and bring their babies and young children.

Shuabe, 45, who has three children the youngest of whom is four months old, told the BBC he was "envious" his wife had sessions with mums' groups she could attend.

"I've always wanted a space where I could talk to other dads and share what I was feeling and going through," he said.

The group aims to meet monthly in a setting such as a play cafe to give men the opportunity to support each other and "build real friendships".

"There are so many shared struggles in fatherhood that aren't always spoken about and while mums often have baby groups and spaces to connect, dads don't always have the same," the group said on its Facebook page.

The club said it was hosting its first session at Little Foxes Play Town in Beeston on Saturday.

Naeem, 28, said: "It's hard making friends as an adult, as it is.

"And then it's even harder making friends as a dad because other people in your age group might not be having kids at the same time.

"I think the reason why we wanted to start this is so that dads could just come together, have a chat, let the kids play.

"You get to know each other, give advice. And I feel like that's how we could build our friendships with other dads."

When asked what he wished he could speak to other dads about, Shuabe said how much a baby "changed the dynamics" of a relationship with your partner.

"Nobody, I think, talks about it or tells you about how much a baby changes that, and how you have to navigate almost like basically a new relationship with the two of you and taking care of your baby," he said.

The pair told the BBC the response to their Facebook page had been "overwhelming, but in a good way".

"I definitely feel happy and excited for the Notts Dad Club.

"Saturday will be the first session, my goal is, if we have five dads coming, that's a success for me," Shuabe said.

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