FOURTH SATURDAY · DIFFERENT VENUE
Shakespeare Street meet
Impact Assessments Hub
Shakespeare Centre, 43–51 Shakespeare Street, Southport, PR8 5AB
13:00–14:15
Check with the groupCheck details
● SOUTHPORT, SINCE 2019
SATURDAYS.
DADS IN TOW.
KIDS TOGETHER.
A community network and peer support group in Southport, Merseyside, for dads, grandads and male carers with young children. Time together. Shared experiences. Local friendships.
Find your next SaturdaySecond & fourth Saturday of each month
THE BEST BIT? BEING THERE.SOUTHPORT
Two Saturdays a month - Two groups - Birkdale and KewLatest on Facebook
SOUTHPORT — WHAT’S ON
YOUR NEXT
SATURDAY.
We meet on the second Saturday of the month. Since August 2026, there’s a fourth Saturday meet-up at a different venue too.
These dates follow our usual monthly pattern. Please check Facebook for any changes before travelling.
No meet-up on Boxing Day, 26 December 2026. The fourth-Saturday group returns to Impact Assessments Hub on 23 January 2027, 13:00–14:15.
SECOND SATURDAY
Birkdale playgroup
St Peter’s Parish Centre
St Peter’s Road, Birkdale, Southport, PR8 4BY
09:30–11:00
Check with the groupCheck details
FOURTH SATURDAY · DIFFERENT VENUE
Shakespeare Street meet
Impact Assessments Hub
Shakespeare Centre, 43–51 Shakespeare Street, Southport, PR8 5AB
13:00–14:15
Check with the groupCheck details
SECOND SATURDAY
Birkdale playgroup
St Peter’s Parish Centre
St Peter’s Road, Birkdale, Southport, PR8 4BY
09:30–11:00
Check with the groupCheck details
SECOND SATURDAY
Birkdale playgroup
St Peter’s Parish Centre
St Peter’s Road, Birkdale, Southport, PR8 4BY
09:30–11:00
Check with the groupCheck details
FOURTH SATURDAY · DIFFERENT VENUE
Shakespeare Street meet
Impact Assessments Hub
Shakespeare Centre, 43–51 Shakespeare Street, Southport, PR8 5AB
13:00–14:15
Check with the groupCheck details
Both buildings are locked and secured, with free parking available. Ring the doorbell on arrival.
Plans can change, particularly around holidays. Facebook has the latest group updates.
WHY COME ALONG?
TIME FOR THEM.
CONNECTION FOR YOU.
Bring your children, meet other local dads and make a little more room for family time.
Make time together
Play, create and get outdoors with your children. Our regular Saturdays give you a place to enjoy that time together.
Find your people
Meet dads, grandads and male carers nearby. Share the everyday joys and challenges of parenting in a relaxed peer support group.
Be first to hear
Join the free, private WhatsApp group for updates before Facebook and access to special events before they open to the public.
TIME TOGETHER
PLAY. MAKE.
GET OUTSIDE.
Regular playgroups, creative activities and seasonal outings for dads and their children.
Saturday playgroups
Our playgroups are free or donation-based, with time for children to play and men to meet other dads, grandads and male carers. Check the details for your chosen session.
Find the next Saturday ↓Family art workshops
Creative sessions, including workshops with Art Ease CIC, give families a chance to make something together. Support from Sefton CVS has helped us offer activities locally.
Buggy-friendly walks
Seasonal walks offer another way to meet outdoors. Previous routes have included Kew Woods and the area around Dobbies. Check Facebook for upcoming walks and route details.
Latest activities on Facebook ↗ABOUT US
FINDING YOUR FEET AS A DAD.
Becoming a father is a massive change. Your identity changes too.
Identity Dads focuses on an often overlooked subject: becoming a father can feel like a loss of identity. At the very least, it asks us to re-evaluate our priorities, and often our own needs are put last.
Once a baby comes along, it can be hard for dads to know where they fit in or what their purpose is. It can be a challenge to retain or build friendships and manage their own wellbeing.
Identity Dads is a community network and peer support group based in Southport, Merseyside. Founded by Richard Owens in 2018, we connect dads, grandads and male carers with young children.
Our meet-ups offer relaxed, non-clinical peer support: a chance to share experiences, spend time with your children and build local friendships.
Dads can also enjoy a free, private WhatsApp group, with updates before they’re announced on Facebook and early access to special events before they open to the public. Email us or ask at a meet-up about joining.
OUR STORY SO FAR.
- 2018
Where it began
Local Southport dad Richard Owens founded Identity Dads in October 2018. St Peter’s Church in Birkdale kindly made its parish centre available, and a playgroup began.
- 2020
Keeping in touch
Covid meant we paused activities, but we kept an eye on each other through WhatsApp.
- 2022
Back together
We started the playgroup again.
- 2024
Building our future
Identity Dads CIC was incorporated on 24 January 2024, company number 15437713. This not-for-profit structure helps us invest in safeguarding and other policies, raise funds and take a more structured approach.
- 2025
More ways to meet
We ran a successful new dads workshop and organised a number of summer activities.
- 2026
A second Saturday
Summer activities included an art workshop. We added a second meeting each month. Launched new website.
REFLECTIONS ON FATHERHOOD
IN THEIR WORDS.
“Of all the rocks upon which we build our lives, we are reminded today that family is the most important. And we are called to recognise and honour how critical every father is to that foundation. They are teachers and coaches. They are mentors and role models. They are examples of success and the men who constantly push us toward it”
1 / 4
FROM THE GROUP
THIS IS
DAD TIME.
A few moments from Identity Dads.
Open a photo for a closer look.
OUR COMMUNITY
WITH A LITTLE
HELP.
The people and organisations helping Identity Dads bring families together.
St Peter’s Birkdale & Footprints
Our foundational partnership is with the lovely people at St Peter’s Birkdale and Footprints, their traditional-style playgroup held every Thursday.
Impact Hub
Thank you to the Impact Hub on Shakespeare Street for providing our space for fourth-Saturday events.
Sefton CVS
Thank you to Sefton CVS for the Recovery Grant in summer 2025 that made activities possible over that period, and for their further support in 2026.
Men’s Therapy UK & Repurposed Coaching
We work alongside Chris Brotherton of Men’s Therapy UK and have connections with Repurposed Coaching to help dads find support around different aspects of their lives.
INCLUSION
FAMILIES COME IN ALL SHAPES & SIZES.
Pro dads. Pro parenting.
Our name reflects the feelings and uncertainties that can arise as men grow older and enter parenting roles.
We do not campaign on fathers’ rights issues or take sides in family court disputes. These can be complex and painful for everyone involved. Our group offers a friendly, supportive space for any dad to share how they feel.
We are pro dads and pro parenting, never anti mothers or anti women.
We warmly welcome single dads, foster and adoptive dads, LGBTQI dads, and grandads finding themselves back in a hands-on role.
NEW DADS PACKAGE
COMING SOON.
Details of our new dads package will be shared here when it’s ready.
YOUR FIRST VISIT
A FEW
PRACTICAL BITS.
Check the details of the particular session before setting off. The fourth Saturday takes place at a different venue.
Who is the group for?
Dads and their children, grandads and male carers in Southport. If you’re unsure whether a particular activity will suit your family, email the group or message us on Facebook.
When do you meet?
Second Saturdays run from 09:30–11:00, and fourth Saturdays from 13:00–14:15. All times are local UK time. The fourth Saturday meet-up was added in August 2026 and uses a different venue. Check Facebook for any changes.
Where is the next meet-up?
Birkdale playgroup, second Saturdays: St Peter’s Parish Centre, St Peter’s Road, Birkdale, Southport, PR8 4BY. Shakespeare Street meet, fourth Saturdays: Impact Assessments Hub, Shakespeare Centre, 43–51 Shakespeare Street, Southport, PR8 5AB. Check Facebook for any changes before travelling.
Is parking available?
Free parking is available at both venues.
How do I get in?
Both buildings are locked and secured. Ring the doorbell on arrival.
What ages can come? Is there a cost?
Our playgroups are free or donation-based and bring together dads, grandads and male carers with young children. Check the specific activity for age suitability, any costs and whether booking is needed.
Is there a WhatsApp group?
Yes. Dads can join our free, private WhatsApp group for updates before they’re announced on Facebook and early access to special events before they open to the public. Email identitydads@gmail.com or ask at a meet-up about joining.
Can I get in touch before coming?
Yes. Email identitydads@gmail.com or use the Facebook page to ask about the next session, access at the venue or anything you need to know before bringing your children.
SUPPORT IDENTITY DADS
Support Family Time Activities
Support Identity Dads CIC through Give as you Live Donate.
Donate (opens in a new tab)You’ll complete your donation on Give as you Live’s website.
GOT A QUESTION?
GIVE US
A SHOUT.
Ask about the next Saturday or introduce yourself before you come. Get in touch by email or through our Facebook page.
Email Identity Dads Find us on Facebook