Rock August with Us!
Rock august with us!
It’s August and we’ve got loads of activities coming up and a big changes here at Dads Rock as Thomas, our Co-founder and CEO, steps down to take on a new challenge - read on for more news! We’ve still got stuff on for you and your family though, so check out our calendar or click the links below for up-to-date information!
We hope to see you soon!
FAREWELL TO THOMAS
We wanted to share some big news with you — Thomas Lynch, our CEO and co-founder will soon be stepping down.
He started the charity back in 2012 with just one Saturday morning playgroup for around 12 families. Since then, under his leadership, the charity has grown into something incredible — now supporting over 4,000 parents, children and carers each year.
From building strong local partnerships to shaping services that truly listen to families, he’s been at the heart of it all. His passion, dedication, and vision have helped create a place where dads (and mums!) feel welcomed, empowered and supported. We’re so proud of everything he’s achieved and so grateful.
While it’s the end of an era, we’re stepping into this next chapter with care and confidence. Rather than rushing into recruiting a new CEO, we’re putting in place a temporary leadership team made up of three brilliant long-serving team members - Greg Borthwick and Ryan Warren, two of our awesome Family Workers and Lisa Holder, our Partnerships & Comms Manager. This approach helps us stay steady, focused, and values-led while continuing to deliver the support families rely on.
If you’d like to say thank you or wish our CEO well in his next adventure, we’d love for you to sign his online card 👉 Thomas and perhaps give a donation Thank you Thomas 🤘
Thanks as always for your support — we couldn’t do any of this without you.
Trips!
Lots of trips this month so come along and join us and make some memories!
Edinburgh
We’re going to see Mario the Maker Magician - 2nd August (full).
Come and join Greg and Rachel for a pop in and play session at Edinburgh’s International Book Festival - 18th August at 1pm - free and open to anyone.
North Ayrshire
We’re going on a walk around Eglinton Country Park on Sunday 3rd at 10.30am - just show up!
Come along to Dean Park for a Bushcraft session - 9th August. Sign up: Dean Park Bushcraft
Dundee
Join us on the Kiltwalk on 17th August: Kiltwalk
We’re going on a fire station visit! 23rd August. Sign up: Fire
Groups
If you are wanting to spend some quality time with your wee one(s) and chat with some other local dads, our groups are the place for you.
Most groups run every week but it’s always worth checking the calendar to make sure it’s on.
North Ayrshire: In Irvine we have weekly groups for Dads and their children on Sundays at 10.30am and the Three Towns Dads Group is on Wednesdays at 6.30pm.
Glasgow: In Maryhill we have a playgroup on every Saturday at 10am.
Edinburgh: In Gorgie we run playgroups every Saturday and Sunday at 10am. On Tuesday evening at 7pm is our Dads and Dice group - board games for Dads with or without their babies.
Dundee: We are working on setting up some Dundee groups, so stay posted and follow our social media for updates.
You can sign up to come along to any of our groups: GroupSignUp and check the calendar to see it’s on: WhatsOn
Don’t forget our WhatsApp groups! If you’re not part of our community you can join here: WhatsApp
Workshops
We run free workshops regularly in our different locations across Scotland. There are a range of topics that we cover and this month we will be running:
Dads Antenatal Workshop – Our Dads Antenatal workshops are here to support dads-to-be with practical skills, support and a space to ask any questions. You can find us online on 19th August in Glasgow! Sign up here: antenatal
Hairstyle - If you’d like to style your wee one’s hair this is the workshop for you - learn basic hair care, pony tails and plaits - 23rd August in Maryhill, Glasgow. Sign up here: Hair styling
Sleep - So many parents struggle with the bedtime routine - come along to get advice and help to make it easier - 27th August online. Sign up here: sleep
You can find out more about all our workshops using the link here: Parenting Workshops
Other support
As always we’ll be supporting Young Dads in Edinburgh and Glasgow, New Dads through our PS service and families in Tayside and North Ayrshire.
Kiltwalk
Join Team Dads Rock at the Kiltwalk!
We’re excited to be taking part in both the Dundee (Sunday 17th August) and Edinburgh (Sunday 14th September) Kiltwalks this year – and we’d love you to join us! Whether you fancy the family-friendly Wee Wander, the Big Stroll, or the full Mighty Stride, there’s a distance to suit everyone. Families are especially welcome to join us for the Wee Wander – our team will be walking at 11am in Dundee with Fiona and 10:30am in Edinburgh with Greg. Every step helps us raise vital funds to support dads and families across Scotland. If you’d like to take part, just fill in this form: Kiltwalk
JuLY Round-up
As well as all our usual groups and workshops we held our very first antenatal workshop in North Ayrshire took place this July at North Ayrshire Central Hospital, with more planned for September and November. Sign up here: NA antenatal We also held our first ‘Dads and Dice’ group, a relaxed, friendly games night where dads come together to play, chat, and have fun – with or without their babies. If you’d like to join just message Greg! 07590106889
Our Dundee raffle concluded with 3 lucky winners all off to the Discovery Festival in Dundee. Thanks to all our amazing supporters who have brought raffle tickets - over £1000 has been raised so far this year to help us continue supporting dads and families.
Here’s a round up of July’s photos:
