Dads

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Times are changing and we're seeing an upsurge in free advice and information for dads. Not before time! Up until quite recently you'd have been lucky to find anything with more than a nod to the role of fathers, let alone a space online to talk.

So here we've brought together a good selection of websites, booklets and videos geared up for dads. There are also places to go for legal, money and benefits advice, relationship support, and information on keeping yourself in good health.

You'll find specific information on adoption, fostering and stepfamilies in the parents and carers section; and age-related parenting advice in pregnancy and babies, toddlers and pre-school, age 5-12 and teenagers.

We hope you'll find what you're looking for here, if not get in touch. And if there are any organisations or websites that have helped you, please let us know.

Advice for dads on pregnancy, birth and fatherhood

Be a role model (Parent Channel TV)

Learn how to identify your own strengths and weaknesses, so you can be a positive and empowering example to your teenage son or daughter.

Becoming a father (NCT)

A round up of all NCT's support for dads-to-be and new dads, including an e-group, publications, and other resources on their website.

Dad's view - becoming a parent (NCT)

Booklet written for dads by dads looking at how becoming a parent changes your life, and going through what you need to know about pregnancy and giving birth.

Dad's view - early days with your baby (NCT)

Booklet written for dads by dads about changing relationships, looking after a young baby and juggling life as a new parent.

Dad.info

The biggest UK website for dads includes the Dad Talk forum, a comprehensive advice and support section, and 'Ask our experts', plus plenty of ideas for things to do with your kids.

Dads Rock

Dads Rock is Edinburgh's first and only free playgroup specifically for Dads and their kids, from ages 0-5 years old; a fathers group, which gives dads the opportunity to get together and compare notes.

Dadzclub

A website where new and experienced dads can come together to share resources, information, news, tips, products, services and more.

Fathers of ill or disabled children (NHS Choices)

Covers practical and financial help, combining work and caring, family relationships, and emotional support.

Free parenting classes and courses

Some councils and health boards in Scotland offer free parenting classes - find out if there are classes running near you.

Gay Dads Scotland

A group of gay fathers from all over Scotland - a mix of married, separated, divorced and single fathers who are all interested in understanding gay parenting issues.

Getting dads involved (Parent Channel TV)

This video looks at how both mums and dads can get involved in bringing up their baby. These tips can help you - or your partner - to get stuck in and make the most of fatherhood.

Guide for new dads (Fatherhood Institute)

Dispels some myths about early fatherhood, gives advice about making your relationship with your partner work, communicating with your baby and practical advice.

HomeDad

Online support group for stay-at-home dads with useful news articles.

Lone fathers (One Parent Families Scotland)

Factsheets with useful information for single dads and separated dads.

New dads survival guide (Bounty)

This straightforward website has loads of practical tips and guides on pregnancy, labour and life after the birth.

Non resident dads (Parent Channel TV)

Advice on keeping contact with your kids for non-resident dads. Give tips on making the most of the time with your child and keeping your relationship with your ex-partner.

OnlyDads: celebrating single parenting

Run by two single parents, this website is set up to help you find the support and advice you need as a single dad.

Ouch! Disability dads series (BBC)

A series of articles by dads with a disability and dads with disabled children.

Parentline Scotland

Free, confidential, parent support helpline for anyone caring for a child in Scotland. You can call about any problem, however big or small.

Why dads matter (Parent Channel TV)

Tips for keeping dads involved family life, as an important positive role model - with suggestions for activities and making the most of your time together.

Action on Depression

A range of services to help with depression, including phone and email support, community courses, self-help support groups and online services.

Breathing Space Scotland

Telephone helpline service and website supporting anyone feeling down or depressed.

Compassionate Friends

Offers a free confidential support and information helpline for those affected by the loss of a child.

Cruse Bereavement Care Scotland

Offers a free confidential bereavement counselling and support to people of all ages. Has telephone helpline.

Drinkline and Drink Smarter

Helpline for anyone who wants more information about alcohol, local services that can help, or simply to talk about drinking and alcohol issues. There's also a website 'Drink Smarter' about sensible drinking.

Fathers Reaching Out

Support network and helpline for men whose wives or partners are suffering from post natal depression.

Helping friends and family: 12 things to try when a loved one is struggling (SAMH)

Practical suggestions for what you can do if a member of your family is showing signs of mental health problems.

Kids and food (Netmums)

Ideas for getting your child into food and cooking, including simple cooking skills breakfasts, snacks, lunchbox ideas, party food and food allergies.

Male Health

Website providing information about the key health problems that affect men.

Men's Advice Line

Confidential helpline and advice service for men experiencing domestic violence from a partner or ex-partner (or from other family members).

NHS 24

If you or your child is feeling ill call the NHS 24 helpline. Alternatively use the self-help guide on the website.

NHS Inform

NHS Scotland's health information service. Includes a health A-Z, common health questions, local and national support groups directory, and news on health issues.

Post-natal depression: dads (dad.info)

Post-natal depression in men is quite common - this page gives information on how it can affect you and what you can do.

Samaritans

Provides confidential, non-judgemental emotional support, 24 hours a day by phone or email.

Take life on - exercise and diet

The website provides lots of handy tips to help you improve you and your families diet and fitness.

Adviceguide: online help from Citizens Advice

Comprehensive information and advice website on money, the law and rights.

Children in local authority care (Adviceguide)

Information and advice from Citizens Advice about children in care, including reasons for placing children in care, parental rights, challenging decisions and contact arrangements.

Citizens Advice Scotland

Network of centres (CABs) all over the country, giving advice on money and rights, including consumer rights, discrimination and employment rights.

Civil partnership in Scotland

Information about the implications of civil partnerships for same sex couples.

Equality and Human Rights Commission in Scotland

Provides information and advice on equality issues regarding age, race, disability, gender, religion or belief and sexual orientation and transgender status. Has a helpline.

Equality Network

Campaigns for equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people in Scotland. Website includes a rights section.

Families Need Fathers Scotland

Provides information and support to parents of either sex to maintain a child's relationship with both parents during and after family breakdown. Has a telephone helpline.

General Register Office for Scotland

Responsible for the registration of births, marriages, civil partnerships, deaths, divorces, name changes and adoptions.

Govan Law Centre

A charitable community-managed law centre providing a range of free and low cost legal services throughout Scotland.

Guide for gay dads (Stonewall)

Looks at the choices available to gay men for starting a family. Gives advice on parenting rights in different situations and what to expect from being a dad.

Housing options for separating or divorcing couples (One Parent Families Scotland)

This factsheet gives information about your housing rights and options in divorce and separation.

Lone fathers (One Parent Families Scotland)

Factsheets with useful information for single dads and separated dads.

Parents under 16 (Adviceguide)

Information for parents in Scotland who are aged under 16 on issues such as benefits, tax credits and maintenance.

Relationship problems (Adviceguide)

What you need to do if your relationship has broken down and you are splitting up, whether you are living together, married or in a civil partnership.

Scottish Child Law Centre

Legal advice for and about children and young people. Provides a telephone helpline, email and text service for under 18s. Parents and carers can call the general office phone line.

Scottish Children's Reporter Administration

The centre of the child protection and youth justice system for children in Scotland (Children’s Hearings System). Website provides information for parents and carers whose children have been asked to attend a hearing.

Working Families

Information service for working mothers, fathers and carers on employment rights, tax credits and in-work benefits, maternity and paternity rights, and flexible working options.

Young people's rights (Adviceguide)

Information on the rights of children and young people in Scotland. Includes proof of age, discrimination, human rights, nationality and immigration, punishment, religion and voting.

Adviceguide: online help from Citizens Advice

Comprehensive information and advice website on money, the law and rights.

Benefits (gov.uk)

Benefits information from the government, including benefits for families, child benefit and housing benefits.

Benefits for families and children (Adviceguide)

Guide to family benefits to help with the extra costs of children.

Child Maintenance Options

Impartial information for both parents about child maintenance after divorce and separation. Telephone helpline service is provided.

Citizens Advice Scotland

Network of centres (CABs) all over the country, giving advice on money and rights, including consumer rights, discrimination and employment rights.

Divorce and separation (Money Advice Service)

Website giving impartial information on your finances if you are going through divorce or separation.

Family Fund: helping disabled children

Provides grants to low income families with severely disabled or seriously ill children, aged 17 years and under.

Fuel advice factsheets (One Parent Families Scotland)

Set of factsheets on energy and money saving, payment methods and fuel debt, with useful contacts.

Lone parents rights guide 2013 (OPFS)

The lone parents rights guide contains all the information you need to know about what benefits you are entitled to, maternity rights at work, housing options, arrangements for your children after separation and divorce, and childcare.

Money Advice Service

Free, impartial financial advice and information available online, over the phone or face to face.

Parents under 16 (Adviceguide)

Information for parents in Scotland who are aged under 16 on issues such as benefits, tax credits and maintenance.

Paying for childcare

Website where you can find out about the financial support you may be able to receive to help with the costs of childcare.

Paying for childcare (HM Revenue & Customs)

Money-saving government scheme for working parents who pay for childcare.

Relationship problems (Adviceguide)

What you need to do if your relationship has broken down and you are splitting up, whether you are living together, married or in a civil partnership.

Working Families

Information service for working mothers, fathers and carers on employment rights, tax credits and in-work benefits, maternity and paternity rights, and flexible working options.

Changing family

If you're thinking of introducing a new partner to your children, we've got some helpful tips on how to handle the change, making the whole process a bit easier for everyone.

Couple Connection: where parents work it out

Website providing tools and resources for couples to use to improve their relationships.

Divorce and separation (Young Minds)

Information for parents who are going through divorce and separation on how parents can help their children to cope.

Families Need Fathers Scotland

Provides information and support to parents of either sex to maintain a child's relationship with both parents during and after family breakdown. Has a telephone helpline.

Family Support Partnership Lanarkshire

Provides relationship counselling, family mediation and sexual therapy for parents with children in Lanarkshire. Also child contact centres.

Parent Connection: separation and co-parenting

The website supports parents through separation and co parenting difficulties.

Relate for parents and families: free relationship advice

This website has live chat online where you can talk to a trained consultant. There’s also a support library with articles, videos and podcasts.

Relationship Helpline

A helpline operated by SMC offering relationship, marriage counselling and pre marriage counselling to couples and individuals of all ages and stages in their relationship. Also offers specialist services for young people and young parents.

Relationship problems (Adviceguide)

What you need to do if your relationship has broken down and you are splitting up, whether you are living together, married or in a civil partnership.

Relationships - practical advice for couples

Leaflet giving practical relationship advice for couples, including handling difficult times, communication and getting help.

Relationships Scotland

National network of local services providing relationship and marriage counselling, family mediation, child contact centres and other family support services. Formed in 2008 through the merger of Relate Scotland and Family Mediation Scotland.

Sex after the birth (Dad.info)

Addresses common issues about having sex after birth.

Sex in pregnancy (Dad.info)

Addresses common fears about sex during pregnancy.

SMC

Offering relationship and marriage counselling to couples and individuals of all ages and stages in their relationship. Our local centres are found across Scotland. Also offers specialist services for young people and young parents. Helpline available.

50 things to do before you're 11¾

Some ideas from the National Trust to get your kids off the sofa and out into the great outdoors! Has safety tips and advice for parents.

Activity Village

Free craft activities, games and puzzles for kids to do, including colouring, origami and sudoko.

Dads Rock

Dads Rock is Edinburgh's first and only free playgroup specifically for Dads and their kids, from ages 0-5 years old; a fathers group, which gives dads the opportunity to get together and compare notes.

Day out with the kids

Useful listing of places you can go with your children: museums, play areas, country parks, wildlife centres, beaches, swimming pools and play centres.

Family days out (The rough guide to accessible Britain)

Accessible, family friendly places to go, including visitor centres, museums, adventure and wildlife parks.

Free family fun (Netmums)

Ideas for free activities to do with kids: places to go, games to play, arts and crafts, having fun at home and on rainy days.

Kids and food (Netmums)

Ideas for getting your child into food and cooking, including simple cooking skills breakfasts, snacks, lunchbox ideas, party food and food allergies.

Phototrails

Countryside walks and trails that have been rated for their accessibility.

Planet Science

A wide range of scientific experiments and activities that your kids can do with or without you.

Primary Times

What's on magazine and website for parents, pupils and staff of primary schools.

Set4Sport

Set4Sport is all about playing games and having fun with your child.

Summer Fun 4 Kids

Directory of summer camps and courses.

Walks with buggies

Website providing free information on walks that are suitable for parents with buggies and young children.

Walks with wheelchairs

Website providing free information and maps for walks that are suitable for people who use a wheelchair.

Young Scot

Information for young people (age 11-26) including things to do such as clubs, sports, and volunteering.