AFTER operating a successful mother and toddler group for more than 20 years, a Baptist church in Worcestershire decided the next step would be to do something for dads.

And so early last month Bewdley Baptist Church launched a new project based on the national initiative ‘Who let the dads out?’

The group, which will meet on the second Saturday of every month, is for any dad or male carers with pre-school children.

Bewdley took its inspiration from Hoole Life Centre in Chester, which pioneered the initiative. The morning enables dads to spend time with their child, with toys and crafts, and a bacon buttie and cup of coffee thrown in.

The first session attracted nine dads, the majority of whom do not attend church.

The Revd Simon Harry, pastor of Bewdley Baptist Church said, ‘At our recent meeting, we all recognised the pressures that local families are facing and wanted to investigate ways to support them.

‘We felt that the next natural step was to set up a group specifically for dads. We thought the ‘Who let the dads out?’ format pioneered by theHoole Life Centre looked a really good way of supporting families.’

The church advertised the initiative through its Noah’s Ark toddler group and an article in a local magazine.

Ruth Tiffany, who leads Noah’s Ark, also led the morning to provide continuity for the children, and several church volunteers were on hand.

Mr Harry said, ‘The first morning went very well. The dads and their children seemed to really enjoy it.’

For more information about the initiative visit Who Let the Dads Out

(Article by Paul Hobson courtesy of THE BAPTIST TIMES. Click here for so much more!)