Another Epic Year! Bring on 2026!
- Michael Bright - Dadmin
- 7 days ago
- 5 min read
As we reach the end of 2025, we want to take a moment to Thank YOU for being part of our amazing community. This year has been filled with laughter, tears, new friendships,and many meaningful conversations. Most importantly, there has been an abundance of Brotherly Support.
We may put these events on, but they only make a difference because people like you, attend them or believe our project enough to support it.
This November we reached an important milestone; four incredible years of DadSpace!
It’s been an epic journey, from our first Maidstone meet-up in November 2021, to the vibrant network of dads and families we welcome at our events today. We often remember worrying at our first session that no one would turn up, or if they did, would they even talk...
Now have 10 regular locations and 14 dedicated volunteers, who help host, support their peers and represent DadSpace at events across the South East.
We’re already planning BIG things for 2026. It will be another challenging year, but we welcome opportunities for growth. Here’s a quick look at what we achieved in 2025...
DadSpace hosted a record 86 FREE sessions and events for fathers and their families this year.
That's twice as many events as 2024... It’s even more than the last 3 years combined!
We're not stopping there! We already have 9 events advertised in January 2026!
| 2025 = 86 2024 = 44 2023 = 21 2022 = 17 |
Making a difference with even more local meet-ups!
This year we added Tunbridge Wells, Dartford, Ramsgate and Strood to our regular gatherings and have brought well over 750 dads together in our welcoming and pressure-free spaces.
From simple chat’s and seaside walks to relaxed evening catch-ups. Each meet-up was a chance for fathers to share their personal experiences, offer support to others, and remind one another that no one has to navigate fatherhood, stress or mental health alone.
For some, DadSpace is a shoulder to lean on or simply ask an opinion... For other’s it has been a life saving outlet and voice of reason. Allowing them to see clarity and focus on their future.
Delivering that safe space could mean, Family's staying together stronger than ever, separated fathers being an active part of their children's lives or even giving a stranger hope and reassurance that they do have a future at all.
DadSpace is here for you, or someone you know find an event near you.
Events for the whole Family at Reuthe's Lost Gardens
From Easter trails to Spooky Halloween frights and our recent Christmas meet and greet with Santa. Reuthe's Lost Gardens have supported DadSpace for over 3 years and we love to greet our members family's there, together, smiling faces and having fun outdoors.
We host our Family Garden party at Reuthe's each year and it reminds us why we do it all, for the community. Huge Thank You to the whole team at Reuthe's.
Dad Talks - Raising Awareness of Men's Health
DadSpace is not just a catchup with the guys... We promote a positive mindset and actively raise awareness of men’s mental health and wellbeing. Our lineup of guest speakers this year included:
Paul Dennington: Prostate cancer survivor who toured 3 of our Kent locations throughout November, delivering much needed Prostate Cancer awareness.
Trevor Twohig: Spoke about the effects of ADHD and how it can affect focus and emotions on adults as well as children.
Mens-Sana Tamakloe: Spoke about how he followed his childhood dream to become a Stuntman, against his parents' wishes.
Behind the Scenes - DadSpace is The "Fathers Voice" of Kent and Medway
Each meet-up is a chance for fathers to share experiences, offer support, and remind one another that no one has to navigate life and fatherhood alone. This valuable insight into modern fatherhood allows DadSpace to inform and help shape the future of many local family support services.
Our team are included in many local Council, Family Hub, NHS and Canterbury Christ Church University talking panels that discuss the impact of mental health on modern parenting.
DadSpace is pleased and proud to be included in discussions at this level, always looking for opportunities to represent our community. Much of this work happens behind the scenes, on top of the 86 FREE sessions and special events that we have hosted over the year.
Pen Y Fan - Fundraising Hike Success In June, our successful Peaks with a Purpose hike raised over £5,5k, smashing our goal of £3k which was shared with "Breast Cancer Now". You can read more about that challenge and Denver's personal motivation for the hike here on our news feed.
We are very pleased to share that Denver's Sister, Emily, is now in remission and making a very healthy recovery.
If your partner or someone you know has been diagnosed or is going through Breast Cancer treatment, please reach out to DadSpace or "Breast Cancer Now" for support.
How is DadSpace funded?
While we are in the topic of funding, DadSpace is a Non-Profit CIC (Community Interest Company). For the last 2 years we have been part funded by both Kent County Council and Medway Council. While they are very pleased with our achievements, these grants are never guaranteed.
We have achieved so much over the last 4 years with relatively little resource, establishing there is a real need for quality DadSpace and engaging activities, to break the ice and allow guys to open up.
In 2026, we are actively looking for partnership opportunities, and want to collaborate with local people and businesses to raise funds and ultimately awareness of our project.
How could you help?
Make a donation via our website
Donate a gift, experience or voucher to our next raffle
Join the Brotherhood and become a regular donor from £5 - £30 pcm
Take on a personal fundraising challenge and raise £100 - £5K+ *Requesting match funding from employer could even double your total
Host a quiz night or similar fundraising event could raise £100 - £500
Sponsor a special event, gym, archery, bushcraft etc ( Avg Cost £300 - £500 )
Sponsor our Family Garden Party ( £1k - £2K )
Sponsor a DadSpace location for a whole year *Average cost is between £3k - £4.5K per location, per year
You can also support us for FREE:
Like, share and tag our posts / events on social media
Becoming a Volunteer / Brand Ambassador
Complete our parenthood journey survey
Submit a review or case study about your life and or how DadSpace has helped you
Submit an original news article for our Blog / News feed
Thank you for another fantastic year!
None of this happens without YOU. Whether you attended our events, donate to our cause, volunteer yoru time, or simply admire and share our message. Your contribution matters. You’re part of a movement that genuinely makes a difference and saves lives, by giving dads space to talk, space to grow and space to be heard.
From all of us at DadSpace,
Thank you and a Happy New Year!