Music event aims to unite dads and SEND children

An event hosted by a not-for-profit company for fathers of neurodivergent children aims to "bring everyone together under music".

Northamptonshire-based SENDS 4 Dad CIC is a support network for fathers or male carers of children or adults with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

The family-friendly music event, Dadstock, is at The Black Prince in Northampton later.

Paul Meadows, chief executive of the organisation, said: "Music connects all of us, no matter your background. Especially if you're neurodiverse... music is a massive, massive thing."

The event consists of live music from local artists and activities, including an interactive drum session.

The performers include the Melostones, The Replicators 2.0, Coping Mechanism, The Keepers, and Good Fridays.

"[We're] trying to bring everyone together under music and give the community a chance to play their music as well," Meadows said.

Among various food and entertainment stalls, the Samaritans will have a stall providing information on SEND and mental health.

People with SEND and their families often avoid public situations due to fear of being judged or "nasty" comments from others, according to Meadows.

He said the event would provide a judgement-free place to enjoy, as well as a place for "SEND children [to do] stuff they wouldn't normally do".

"If anything happens they're around people that get it, that understand," he added.

Meadows set up the group 11 years ago after struggling with mental health and discovering that the majority of the support was geared towards mums.

"There was no support for dads or male carers out there at all," he said.

"Quite often dads aren't included in a lot of things and we struggle to understand the needs of our child."

Meadows added: "Dads say 'if it wasn't for the group then I wouldn't be here' and mums say if it wasn't for the group, they wouldn't know where their marriage would have got to.

"It's about community, being part of something and having fun."

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