Dads took part in games of pool, tried out virtual reality headsets and met and chatted with other fathers in a safe and welcoming environment. The dads-only meet-up will now run every third Thursday of the month at the Mill Building on Chatsworth Road. 

●Dad La Soul founder Dan Flanagan said: 

“Being a dad can be lonely. There are fewer opportunities to see your friends and, even if you are all free at the same time, the cost of living crisis means that many of us just can’t afford to go out on the town. 

That is why we wanted to run a free event, where dads can come and meet other men in the same position. It is a place where they can open up if they wish and there are always people there to support them, offer advice and listen to them rant if they need to. 

At April’s event, we talked about everything from what it’s like to be a respite foster carer for children with disabilities to how to co-parent in a new blended family to the differences between killing zombies and pottering around the allotment as forms of stress-relief!

The Mill Building is the perfect space for the event and we can’t thank Freedom Works enough for supporting these important sessions.”

●Leigh Otterson-Walter, Head of Community for Freedom Works said:

“Freedom Works was created as a community for the community.  Our focus is on bringing like-minded people together in an inclusive, collaborative flexible workspace setting whilst working symbiotically with the wider community to 'create good'.  We are privileged to deliver a wide range of support to our members as a result of the great relationships we have built with key partners like Dad La Soul, who enable us to have a far greater social impact at a local level.”

Dad La Soul is a community interest company that has battled social isolation in men since 2016, using a unique mixture of arts, tech, music and play to start conversations that matter. It runs regular playdates in Worthing for dads and kids and online dad sessions in addition to the dads-only meet-ups. 

You can find out more information on Dad La Soul’s activities on www.dadlasoul.com.