Specific Support for Dads

Children First provides a dads' support service - for those with children under 5 - city-wide across Edinburgh. The support aims to be preventative and offer early intervention to a range of dads who are facing challenges or might need a bit of advice. By providing this service, we:

• Help improve confidence in expressing views and understanding of their children.
• Build a strong relationship with dads; these relationships are at the heart of everything we do.
• Provide trusted advice, guidance, and strategies.
• Take a whole family approach to improve outcomes for children, supporting Dad’s to feel confident, valued, and supported in caring for their children in their early years.
• Work at dad’s pace to properly understand their and their children’s needs, hopes and what we can do to help them along the way.

Edinburgh Family Support Umbrella Hubs

The Edinburgh Family Support Partnership (EFSP) – Umbrella Hubs offer early help for families within their local community. Each hub brings together a range of services designed to support families with practical, emotional and financial challenges.

All families can also access free wraparound support through the Children 1st Support Line, including financial wellbeing advice and guidance. Families can drop into any hub, call the Support Line or use the online webchat. Where further help is needed, they will be linked directly into the Umbrella Hubs for additional support. Find out more about the hubs, here. 

The service is open to all dads with a range of caring circumstances.

Referrals can be made by families themselves, early years centre staff, Social Work and NHS colleagues to [email protected] or 0131 446 2300.

Testimonials 

“We are in the best place we have ever been because we feel supported and have the right support”

“The worker really understood him and his family to be able to help them”

“I was worried I couldn’t be a good dad, but I feel more confident after working with Children 1st and would ask for help again if I needed it”