In Practice: Success story - Outdoor Dads

Goal: To support and encourage dads to spend more time outdoors with their children

Contact: Mike Hunter at mike.hunter@actionforchildren

Beachcombing, wildlife spotting and den building are some of the activities Devon dads are being encouraged to try as part of a new course.

Outdoor Dads is a partnership between Barnstaple children's centres and Devon Family Learning. The course, which started last month, comprises six monthly evening sessions at Sticklepath Children's Centre. "The sessions are just for adults," says dads' worker Mike Hunter. "The idea is we look at different free things to do locally, whether that's going to the beach and collecting stuff to make a sculpture or going to the woods and making a den and using bushcraft skills."

The hope is that fathers will go away with the confidence to do the activities with their children. The course is also a chance to introduce families to the children's centre and other local services. Up to a dozen fathers are expected to attend.

The group will also help produce a booklet of free local activities to benefit other families. "Everyone will have something to share, like a favourite place where they take their children or even an activity they enjoyed as a child," says Hunter.