“There are men who genuinely want to turn things around but don’t always know where to start,” says one participant. “That’s where outside support, like I had, can really help.”
Kids Needs Dad General Manager, Grant Clure, says the core aim of the programme is straight forward.
“This programme gives dads a sense of purpose – something to hold onto. We’re seeing them take an honest look at themselves and really think about the legacy they want to leave their kids. That’s powerful,” says Grant.
In 2023, we updated Discovering Fatherhood, KND’s parenting course, to include a journalling component. These sections encourage dads to reflect on their childhoods and their relationships with their parents, helping them understand how these experiences shape both their approach to parenting and who they’ve become as individuals.
A course participant reflected on the difficult realities many of the men he met in prison faced, noting how some didn’t even know who their fathers were or had grown up in foster care. He recognised that unresolved family issues often led to cycles of trauma. “A lot of guys in there blamed their parents for where they ended up,” he said. “I don’t want my kids to ever say that about me.”
Grant, like everyone at KND, is passionate about the impact of the organisation’s education programmes. “When these dads start to reflect and make changes, it’s not just about them – it’s about giving their kids a better chance. It’s about breaking cycles and creating real opportunities for the future,” he says.
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