Following the three free Dad’s Support Groups that I offered in the lead up to Christmas 2025, I am continuing to offer these Dad’s Groups on an ongoing basis in 2026 here in Hayle, Cornwall.
The groups are open to fathers of any variety, including male caregivers, and are intended to provide a regular, grounded and supportive space for dads to come together, slow down, and feel less alone in the realities of parenting and everyday life.
The shape and intention of these ongoing groups have grown directly out of the free pre-Christmas dad’s support groups I offered in the lead up to Christmas 2025. Those sessions offered a clear reminder to me (and in my opinion the dads who attended) of how valuable it can be for dads to have a space that is just for them – for us – especially at times of increased pressure.
When the groups will take place.
In a general sense the groups will be fortnightly, Monday evenings from 7-8.30pm – and I’m glad to say that the next – upcoming – Dad’s Support Groups will be held here in Hayle on the following dates: –
- Monday 12th October, 2026 – 7.00-8.30pm
- Monday 26th October, 2026 – 7.00-8.30pm
- Monday 9th November, 2026 – 7.00-8.30pm
Please do contact me for more details and to be kept updated.
Why bring dads together in groups?
I set up these Dad’s Support Groups knowing personally how challenging being a dad can be. Alongside work, family expectations, financial pressure and the desire to “get it right” for our children, many dads carry a lot. We don’t have to do that on our own.
When dads (or just people) gather in groups, something different happens. Being with others who are navigating similar situations reduces isolation and helps calm the nervous system. Hearing other dads speak openly about experiences we recognise and go through too allows us to relax, and feel more human. Over time, this creates space to reflect on how we are actually doing, what matters to us, and what might help things feel a little easier.
What happens in the dad’s support groups?
The ongoing 2026 groups follow a defined structure (with some flexibility) to cater for who is attending, and what is ‘most live’ in any given group. Meetings take place in my warm, private ‘Octoshed’ in Hayle – a space intentionally built to support gathering, slowing down and feeling safe.
Sessions usually begin with time to arrive and land, including a simple body-led practice such as breathing or a body scan. There is then a check-in, giving every dad the chance to speak without interruption, advice-giving or fixing. Activities vary and may include writing, discussion prompts, creative or symbolic work, or paired and small-group conversations, often shaped around themes that affect how we are as dads – such as work, money, relationships, pressure or our physical and mental wellbeing.
Each session ends with a check-out, allowing dads to gather themselves before returning to their lives, often taking away something small but meaningful from the session.
Looking ahead: community and connection
Alongside the indoor group sessions, there is an intention for the 2026 Dad’s Support Groups to gradually include optional activities out in the local community. This might involve shared practical projects, time outdoors, or ways of contributing together locally. These activities will be shaped by the group and offered as another way for dads to connect, build confidence and feel part of something wider.
These free support groups for Dads are not about fixing or telling anyone how to be a dad. They are about presence, listening, shared experience and mutual support – offered as an ongoing resource rather than a ‘one-off intervention’.
How to find out more or get in touch
If you’d like to find out more about the Dad’s Support Groups I am offering – or are interested in attending – please do get in touch.
You can contact me by phone or text message on 07922 158720, by email at cj@cjadams.co.uk, or by using the contact form on my website here:
https://cjadams.co.uk/counselling/contact-book-a-call/.
I look forward to hearing from you!