North East Young Dads & Lads

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North East Young Dads & Lads

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Dedicated to helping young men play an active and meaningful role in the lives of their children.

NEYDL was established in 2015, to provide direct support to local dads, fathers-to-be and vulnerable young men (aged under 25). We currently running Football Groups every Monday 8.30-9.30 in Gateshead, Employment Support, Bee Keeping Courses, Filmmaking Opportunities, 1-2-1 Parenting Support and our looking to launch an upcoming gaming evening on Discord. NEYDL prides itself on being an open and inclusive space for all.

23/10/2026

For Jordan, getting out in nature changed his life. 🐝

He describes beekeeping as his “silent therapy.”

Before, Jordan struggled with OCD and severe anxiety that had begun to make everyday life difficult.

But joining North East Young Dads & Lads in Gateshead led Jordan to their environmental project, Birds, Bees, Bikes and Trees.

And that’s where Jordan found beekeeping, found his community, and started to find himself again.

Our research shows that 4.5 million people across the UK don’t have access to nature. But that 80%, like Jordan, have experienced its health benefits in the past year.

We want to connect more people with nature where it’s needed most. So if you've got an idea for a community project, we want to hear it. https://ow.ly/FC6y50ZWa3U

05/10/2026

🏃‍♀️ AND SHE’S OFF! 💛

This morning, Vicky Pattison officially began her HUGE 250-mile Tyne to Thames challenge - running, cycling and kayaking all the way from Newcastle to London in support of

And there was a familiar face joining her for those first miles… our very own Doug! 🏃‍♂️👏

Vicky recently spoke to ChronicleLive about the challenge and the charities she’s doing it for, including North East Young Dads and Lads:

“Meeting people like Doug Laidlaw, and seeing the incredible work that charities like the North East Young Dads and Lads project do, it makes it all worth it.”

The funding raised through Make Some Noise will help us provide dedicated support for neurodivergent young dads, helping them navigate routines and the huge life change that comes with becoming a parent.

We’re incredibly grateful to Vicky for using her platform to champion organisations like ours - and very proud of Doug for getting those first miles in with her this morning! 💛

Now just the small matter of getting to London… 😅

GO VICKY! We’re behind you every step, pedal and paddle of the way! 🚴‍♀️🛶🏃‍♀️

08/09/2026

🏃‍♂️💙 RUN DAD RUN!

This Sunday, Will, Dylan and Josh will be pulling on their running shoes and taking on 13.1 miles of the AJ Bell Great North Run for NEYDL.

And this one feels particularly special.

All three first came to NEYDL as young dads looking for support. Since then, they’ve become volunteers, trustees and employees – supporting other young dads and becoming brilliant role models within our community.
Now, they’re taking on the Great North Run to give something back to the charity that was once there for them.

Will says:
💬 “This charity was the only one that was there for me when I was at my lowest. It helped me become a better father and a better role model. I look at the charity as a family. I wouldn’t be where I am now without them.”

Every penny raised will support our Cost of Living Crisis Fund, helping us provide essentials like nappies, clothing and baby products to young dads and families facing poverty.

So, we need your help! 💙
Whether it’s £1, £10 or £100, or simply sharing this post, please get behind our dads and help them raise as much as possible.

They’re running for the dads we’ve supported, the dads we support today, and the dads who will need us tomorrow.

🏃‍♂️ Run Dad Run!
🔗 Donate via this link

https://www.paypal.com/ncp/payment/RZRV29HDSE46E

24/08/2026

We need your help!

How father-inclusive are UK services that come into contact with young dads?

We’re inviting professionals working across health, social care, education, housing, justice, and voluntary services to share their experiences.

As the UK’s only charity dedicated exclusively to supporting young fathers, NEYDL is seeking to build a clearer picture of father-inclusive practice nationally, identifying what’s working well, where barriers remain, and what support professionals need.

The survey takes 8-10minutes and all responses are anonymous.

Please take part and help shape future practice for young fathers and the professionals who support them.

https://forms.cloud.microsoft/pages/responsepage.aspx?id=yvR0_DWlZ0WQMMU_hqrC89wYNBb1muJOjZQRybCcXuJUMDM1STcyMzJSTUQ0RjVCQ1RBTEhDV1ZCWi4u&route=shorturl

11/08/2026

☀️ Summer at NEYDL looks a little something like this…

Getting outdoors. Pizza and BBQs. Football, pool and fishing. Bike rides and beekeeping. Meeting a few owl pals along the way. 🦉🐝⚽️🎣

It’s looked like our young dads standing up and sharing their experiences at events - and us being incredibly proud to stand alongside them.

It’s looked like big conversations about exciting things to come, trying new things, soaking up the sunshine and, most importantly, having each other’s backs through all of it. 💛

Because sometimes support looks like sitting down for a proper conversation. And sometimes it looks like kicking a ball about, going fishing, eating pizza or just spending a sunny afternoon with people who get it.

A little look back at summer so far with the NEYDL lads. ☀️

And we’re nowhere near done yet… 👀

29/07/2026

Being a new dad can feel incredible… and overwhelming.

When your world changes overnight, it helps to know you’re not figuring it all out on your own.

David joined us at DigiDAD Fest and his message couldn’t be more important: Meet other dads. Find your people.

Whether you’re expecting your first baby, navigating the newborn days, or somewhere in the middle of fatherhood, there’s a place for you here. No pressure. No judgement. Just a community of dads who get it.

Fatherhood was never meant to be done alone. 💙

👇 Want support in your pocket?

Sign up to DigiDAD today for free, on-demand support, practical advice, events, resources, and a community of dads who are with you every step of the way.

Www.digidad.uk

21/06/2026

Fatherhood isn’t just about being a dad.

It’s about showing up when things are hard.
Learning as you go.
Choosing love, patience and growth, even on the days you get it wrong.

We’ve watched young dads across our community do exactly that.

We’ve seen dads make memories with their children, support one another, try new things, build confidence, overcome challenges and create brighter futures for themselves and their families.

In this video, you’ll hear reflections from our CEO & founder Kev and Regional Programmes Manager Doug on what being a dad means to them. Behind their words are some of the hundreds of moments we’ve been lucky enough to witness.

Today, we’re celebrating every dad in our community.

Not just for being fathers, but for being role models, friends, supporters, learners, leaders and incredible people.

We’re proud of you.

The world doesn’t always tell young dads how important they are. We hope today reminds them.

Happy Father’s Day from all of us at NEYDL & DigiDAD ❤️

18/06/2026

NEYDL & DigiDAD AGM

On 7th July, we’ll be holding our Annual General Meeting, taking a look back at the past year and reflecting on the impact, challenges and achievements across NEYDL and DigiDAD.

From supporting young dads and families, to expanding our reach, developing new projects and creating opportunities for connection and growth, it’s been another busy year with plenty to celebrate.

If you’d like to learn more about the work we’ve been doing, we encourage you to take a look at our latest Annual Report

https://www.neydl.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/NEYDL-Annual-Report-2025_Final.pdf

and our 2025 Highlight Film

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xx1484wSGEA

If you have an interest in attending, please contact [email protected] for further information.

14/05/2026

On 17th May, Adam will be running the Sunderland 3K to raise money for NEYDL ❤️

Adam is an ex-service beneficiary who first joined the project as a university student training to become a youth worker. He later worked with NEYDL part-time and then full-time, before moving into employment support during COVID. Over the years, he’s always stayed connected to the young lads and dads involved in the project.

Now a dad himself, Adam wanted to take on this challenge for both himself and other young dads in our community.

Here are some words from Adam about why he’s doing this:

“Since becoming a young dad myself at 23, life has been a rollercoaster of health and mental health. After changing industry, becoming a bus driver, hitting the gym and reconnecting with old friends, I’ve bounced back and I’m now focusing on making the most of being a dad to my young children.

Especially making sure I can keep up with them, as they are both outdoorsy and I wouldn’t want to disappoint them because of my health.

The 3K run is both a reminder to myself that I’m still able to start new things, try them and achieve something I never thought I could.

By raising money for the project, I also hope to help other young lads and dads become the best version of themselves for both themselves and others.”

We’re so proud of you Adam ❤️

If you’d like to support Adam and donate to NEYDL, you can do so via this link…

https://shorturl.at/DvSYm

16/04/2026

Hear from our Founder Kev about NEYDL & DigiDAD and why coming together as community is one of the most powerful things we can do to support young dads and families. 🙌🏼

Looking forward to our DigiDAD gaming event tonight!

We’d love to know how NEYDL & DigiDAD have had an impact on your life! 💚

Address

Baltic Centre For Contemporary Art, South Share Road
Gateshead
NE83BA

Telephone

+447784905717

Website

http://www.neydl.uk/, http://www.Digidad.uk/

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