A local support service for dads with children under the age of two is expanding into South Gloucestershire after a successful first year in Bristol.

Dad Matters, run by Home-Start Bristol & South Gloucestershire, has been supporting fathers since February 2024. Following a positive pilot and strong feedback from families, the service is now extending its support to dads in South Gloucestershire, with funding from South Gloucestershire Council.

The service offers one-to-one support through home visits, as well as phone and message-based support. Coordinators work alongside dads to offer practical help, emotional support and guidance, and help them connect with local services and their wider community. Dad Matters also works closely with health, maternity and family services to ensure dads are included in antenatal education and early years support.

While support for new parents is often focused on mums, services specifically aimed at dads have been limited. Dad Matters was set up to help fill that gap and support fathers as they navigate the early years of parenthood.

During its Bristol pilot in 2024–25, the service supported 30 dads. Many reported feeling more confident and better supported, with one dad describing the service as a “stepping stone” that helped him reach out to other support.

The South Gloucestershire team includes new Co-ordinator Steve Ashton, working alongside Senior Co-ordinator Jerome Cross, who established the service in Bristol, and Joe Wheatcroft, a former Home-Start volunteer.

To find out more about Dad Matters or how to access support in South Gloucestershire, visit www.dadmatters.org.uk/bristol.