A father is more than a paycheck, he is more than a man who pays the bills and keeps the lights on. He is not some kind of means to an end. And yet, so often, fathers become strangers to their own family, whom nobody seems to understand. Dylan Moran famously noted this – “Look at the Christmas presents fathers get. Nobody knows who this guy is. It’s like they’re trying to feed a stray dog or something. Meanwhile, the kids get exactly what they want, the mother gets thoughtful things... Dad? Socks. Again.” But dad are not second class parents, they are not babysitters, they are not disposable, and should not be treated as outsiders in the home they helped create. Positive fathers are essential to harmonious family life. Sadly, we can so often see this in the lives of children who did not grow up with present, positive father figures, and the painful outcomes they frequently lead to. And it’s not just about money. This new report, by the CSJ, measures the impact fathers have on the mental health and wellbeing of both children and mothers; to remind us, that dads are no less important than mums, and yet, so often children are raised without them. So how do we bring back our dads? How do we nurture positive fatherhood? What do you think? ~ Report centreforsocialjustice.org.uk/lost-boys

2026-03-03