Dads gather to fight 'quiet crisis' affecting men

Hundreds of dads are set to take part in a what organisers have called a "part playdate, part protest" against a "quiet crisis" affecting men.

Dan Flanagan said he set up Dad La Soul, which is holding the Saturday event in the fanzone of Brighton and Hove Albion FC's Amex Stadium, to fight male social isolation.

"There is a loneliness epidemic as nobody wants to put their hand up and say 'you know what, I feel like a bit of a Billy No Mates'," said Mr Flanagan adding: "Nobody wants to appear weak or vulnerable".

During the three-hour event, where "no mums are allowed", dads and their children can listen to DJs, play games and open up about the realities of fatherhood, Mr Flanagan added.

"As you get older your social circle shrinks," he said, adding that traditional routes of male friendship, like going down the pub, are decreasing.

Mr Flanagan said that the festival-styled event also aims to address a crisis of male role models.

"Society encourages men to be better, more mature, intelligent and emotionally resilient, but what happens when our male role models aren't actually like that?"

He continued: "Dads can be active, loving, helpful and useful."

• How loneliness is killing men

Mr Flanagan detailed that a wide range of men - from a 16-year-old father who has just finished his GCSEs to a 70-year-old grandfather - are set to attend the event.

He said he created Dad La Soul in 2016, which started out in an office borrowed from a friend and drew in 14 dads, because of his own experience.

"About eight years ago, I had, on the face of it, everything," he said.

"I had a good corporate job, a house in the suburbs and a young family, but I felt quite lonely.

"I felt fatherhood was a real struggle."

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