Whitby Dads Society new group aims to bring men together in safe space

Teacher Josh Howarth has been living in Whitby for over a year now, and most of the time, has been working hard to settle into the UK after working abroad, and to build up his teaching business.

He started playing football but was advised by doctors to stop playing due to an irregular heartbeat, so his original plan of making friends through football didn’t work as planned.

"My wife Stephanie goes to quite a few mums groups and made a lot of friends,” said Josh, 34.

"Everybody was super friendly and thought ‘why is there not anything like this for dads?’

"They will be able to speak to other dads and confide in other people.”

Josh is from Doncaster originally and admitted he had found it a bit challenging to make friends since coming to Whitby.

"I’m told I can’t play football any more, I saw what they do in all the mums groups and there are so many things that go on all the time.

"I’d been to some before and I was the only dad there,” he said.

When father-of-two Josh lived in Bangkok – he previously worked as a teacher in private schools in China and Thailand – a similar dads group had just started there with events including barbecues, beach days out, pints with a catch-up and golf days.

And he said it would nice to bring something similar to Whitby, with one of the main aims to help men with their wellbeing and mental health.

"I know what it’s like with men, they hold it in and don’t say too much, but I’m hoping it will be an open space for men to have someone to talk to,” he said.

"I don’t want it to be just turning up to the pub and moaning about their wives, it’s a place for males to bring their kids along, and give their wives a bit of relief as well.

"It’s nice to build it up like the mums groups.

"The more people that join, the better, we’re trying to promote a bit of positivity really.”

Visit the Whitby Dads Society group on Facebook to find out more.