Folkestone, Kent, will host a dedicated support evening for local fathers on Wednesday 11 February 2026 to help men share their experiences of parenting and mental health. The community organisation DadSpace is organising the event at The Chambers from 7:00pm to 9:00pm. The session aims to provide a relaxed place for dads to connect and find help without the pressure of a clinical or medical setting.
The group was founded by Denver King, who launched the initiative after his own experiences with mental-health challenges. King started DadSpace to challenge the idea that men do not talk about their feelings and to give fathers a safe, informal space to meet. This Folkestone session is part of a wider project backed by Kent County Council (KCC), which has provided grant funding and volunteer training to help expand DadSpace across the county.
Research carried out by KCC found that over a third of Kent dads who had not sought support would have liked it but did not know where to go; the council said many fathers felt “unseen and ignored” in the early years of parenthood. To address this gap, the meetup is peer-led — facilitated by other fathers rather than medical professionals — so people can talk about their challenges in a down-to-earth environment. For those who need extra help, DadSpace also signposts to professional services through partners such as South Kent Mind.
By hosting the event at a local hub like The Chambers, organisers hope to make talking about emotional well-being feel like a normal part of a night out. The meeting is free for any local father to attend and focuses on building friendships and confidence to help men overcome mental barriers. It offers a safe space for fathers to listen to others and share their own stories of life with children.
