The council welcomed feedback from dads and male carers who attended an event held at Trago Lounge in Portswood on Wednesday (March 18), aimed at helping to shape more inclusive family support across the city.

 

 

The session brought together local male carers who shared reflections on the support they have received and the challenges they face when engaging with local services.

This from Southampton City Council in their own words

 Featuring Callum, Oss, Harry, CllrAlex Winning (Lab), Leader of Southampton City Council, Cllr Phil Webb (Lab, Bitterne Park), Sarah, Russell, Bradley and Ghulam. Photo: SCC

Some of the points raised by dads and male carers included:

• A desire for more specific services for male carers
• The need for communication, which includes dads, from the start of pregnancy
• A strong interest in contributing to shaping future support in Southampton.

One of the dads said, “It was a great experience to be around other dads and for them to explain how they feel and how they are coping. For dads, it’s important to get the help that we need.”

Councillor Alex Winning, Leader of Southampton City Council, attended as a dad and said “Tonight we got together a bunch of dads to talk about our experiences, bringing up kids in Southampton. We discussed what’s good and what could be improved. I think it’s clear there is a need for better support for dads and to make it more inclusive. This is the start of the conversation, and I really look forward to carrying it on, so that dads and male carers can feel confident and supported.”

Following the success of the event, the Family Hub team will establish a dedicated male carer working group. This group will bring together dads, male carers, practitioners, and Family Hub staff to co-design improvements to local support.

The working group will focus on:

• Understanding the needs of male carers
• Developing inclusive services that ensure dads are recognised and communicated with from the earliest stages of family life
• Identifying gaps in current support and updating services with male carers in mind

For those who were unable to attend but wish to share their experiences or join the new working group, please message 07831 206736, or contact the Family Hub team by searching for ‘Family Hubs – services and support’ on the Southampton City Council website.

Lesley Weeks, Children and Young People’s Programme Lead at Southampton City Council, said: “The honesty and commitment shown by the dads and male carers who attended the event has been incredible. Their voices will directly shape how we move forward, and the new working group will ensure this collaboration continues long after the event.”

Councillor Amanda Barnes-Andrews (Lab, Bitterne Park), Cabinet Member for Children and Learning, at Southampton City Council added: “This is exactly the type of engagement I love to see. A practical, collaborative, and focused session on making our services more equal and accessible for families in Southampton. I want to thank every dad and male carer who came along.”

Family Hubs are places for families to get support, advice and play together. They are open to anyone living in Southampton who looks after a child providing free play sessions, parenting and community programmes that run throughout the year and much more. To find out more and to register with Family Hubs search for ‘Family Hub’ on the Southampton City Council website.

Making Southampton services more equal for families is at the heart of the Southampton City Council 2035 vision. This event has enabled collaboration with male carers to ensure future services are inclusive.