Dad group attracts 100 members before launch

More than 100 dads have signed up for a man's support group, despite the fact he has not planned its first official event yet.

Matt Krishnan-Bird founded the Good Dads Club in Colchester, Essex, in September last year, before expanding it to Chelmsford earlier this year, after noticing a lack of support groups specifically for dads.

After the success of both groups, one of his Colchester members asked him if he would consider launching a group in Ipswich, which he agreed to, and they are planning the first event.

Already they have seen significant demand in Ipswich, and with the three groups, Krishnan-Bird has 500 dads involved. He believed it was a "tool every dad should have access to".

"It's become a fountain of knowledge... there are so many people with different hacks, and they know about sleep schedules, weaning processes, and advice about relationship struggles in the early stages when you're going through the trenches," he told BBC Radio Suffolk's Matt Marvel.

"It's been really helpful for me as a dad; I know I've got better as a result."

Events in Essex have seen the dads enjoy beers and braids, where they learn how to style their daughters' hair alongside a pint.

They also enjoy coffee walks together where their children can come along.

Krishnan-Bird said he set up the group after noticing his wife had access to many different mum groups.

"I just felt like I really needed that community," he said.

He said the groups were a safe space for dads to trust one another and talk about their mental health.

"Eventually we'll hopefully see Good Dads Club all over Suffolk and the rest of Essex and beyond," he continued.

"I really think every dad should have access to a community like this, whether it's Good Dads Club or some of the others that are popping up around the country."

Good Dads Club was also involved in the setting up of the fundraiser for the family of three-year-old Noah Woods, who disappeared before his body was found in a pond in Brantham last month.

They have so far raised £118,000.

"A few of our dads were involved in the search for Noah Woods, and as a group we discussed it in the Colchester group, mainly how much it really affected us personally; [it was] really close to home," Krishnan-Bird said.

He added: "I still can't get over the figure that was raised and how generous everybody was."

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