Father inclusive Family Hubs

This section brings together useful links to key documents, helpful websites, and recordings of previous webinars. It’s designed to give you quick access to practical guidance, further learning, and tools that support your work on this topic.

Understand the research behind father engagement, the institutional and cultural barriers that inadvertently exclude dads from family services, and the transformative impact that father-inclusive practice has on child development and family wellbeing.

Established in 2017, the North East Young Dads and Lads (NEYDL) provides intensive and often long-term support to improve the lives of disadvantaged young fathers, expectant dads and non-birthing people aged 25 and under. NEYDL’ vision is for young dads to be valued and supported in their role as parents.

Hackney is taking a system-wide approach to becoming a Father Friendly Borough, embedding father inclusion across Children and Family Hubs rather than treating it as a specialist add-on. The Needs Assessment provided a clear mandate: if we want better outcomes for children and families, fathers must be actively welcomed, engaged and supported.

Who Let The Dads Out? is a national network of community groups that give fathers and father figures regular, welcoming spaces to spend quality time with their children. Launched in 2003 at Hoole Baptist Church in Chester, the model has grown to over 175 groups across the UK.

Halton Borough Council has developed a comprehensive strategy to embed father-inclusive practice across its Family Hubs and partner services. Recognising fathers as vital caregivers, the initiative promotes inclusive language, tailored service design, staff training, and community collaboration. The strategy includes flexible programming, digital engagement, and policy reform to improve access and outcomes.

Leaders in Swindon identified a need to better engage with young fathers to help build their capacity as parents to provide safe, nurturing care for their babies. The FNP supervisor developed a service model based on theories, practice and implementation underpinning FNP, working alongside a fathers worker and the FNP National Unit.