Fatherhood Institute

16/09/2026

Our evidence on fathers’ health was heard in Parliament last week.

During a Westminster Hall debate on Fathers and Positive Male Role Models, Dr Sam Rushworth MP cited research from the Fatherhood Institute:

“The Fatherhood Institute found that more active and involved fathers report lower levels of depression and higher relationship satisfaction than less involved fathers.”

It’s an important point.

Fathers’ health and wellbeing matters, not only for dads themselves, but for their children, partners and families.

That’s why our Looking out for dad campaign is calling for fathers to be properly recognised in health policy and services, including a ‘new dad’ health check and more father-inclusive support.

Thank you to Sam Rushworth for putting the evidence on the record.

Find out more about our Looking out for dad campaign 👇

www.fatherhoodinstitute.org/looking-out-for-dad

03/09/2026

Last week, our the Big Squeeze report was featured on ITV's GMB.

The report reveals the financial reality facing families during a baby’s first year, and how the UK’s parental leave system can leave new parents thousands of pounds worse off at exactly the moment they need support most.

With the Government currently reviewing parental leave, these findings couldn’t be more timely.

Read the Big Squeeze 👇

www.fatherhoodinstitute.org/thebigsqueeze

02/09/2026

There’s growing cross-sector support for a better deal for Britain’s dads and families.

Today, we’re joining charities, unions, universities, academics and others in calling on the Government to transform parental leave.

At the heart of that reform should be six weeks’ well-paid, reserved leave for all fathers and second parents in their baby’s first year, including support for those who are self-employed.

This is something we’ve been campaigning for through our campaign for years. Fathers need protected, affordable time to bond with their babies, support their partners and become confident caregivers.

The breadth of support behind today’s call shows that this is no longer a niche issue. There is a growing consensus that Britain’s parental leave system needs to change.

Now is the opportunity for Government to act.

Read the joint asks and see the full list of supporters:

https://futureadvocacy.com/parental-leave-review

27/08/2026

“Almost all the pressure is on mums.”

Our new Big Squeeze research shows just how differently the UK’s parental leave system affects mothers’ and fathers’ incomes.

In their baby’s first year, average-earning mothers can lose up to 67% of their income, while fathers typically lose less than 3%.

Why such a big difference?

Fathers have so little paid leave available to them that there is little financial incentive for parents to share earning and caregiving. For many families, dad staying in full-time work is simply the financially sensible option.

That is one reason why we are calling for six weeks of well-paid leave for fathers, giving families more choice about how they share work and care during their baby’s first year.

Read The Big Squeeze👇
www.fatherhoodinstitute.org/thebigsqueeze

27/08/2026

Having a baby puts a big squeeze on family finances. Our new research shows how the UK’s parental leave system adds to the pressure.

A couple where both parents earn the National Living Wage could go from a £12,912.61 annual household surplus to an £8,645.44 deficit in their baby’s first year, if both take their maximum leave.

And the impact is far from equal. Mothers can lose up to 67% of their income, while fathers typically lose less than 3%.

Our latest report, the Big Squeeze explores what the current system means for first-time parents’ finances, and how six weeks of well-paid leave for fathers could help families share earning and caregiving more equally.

Read The Big Squeeze 👇

www.fatherhoodinstitute.org/thebigsqueeze

12/08/2026

It's taken over a year to get there. Huge well done to .

Policemen's children deserve this. And so do all the others.

Join the Parent Strike on 27 August

12/07/2026

What difference could six weeks make?

For a new father, it can mean time to bond with their baby, support their partner's recovery, build confidence as a caregiver and lay the foundations for family life.

For children, mothers and employers, the benefits are long-lasting.

Our latest campaign video explains why the UK needs a better statutory paternity offer and why we're calling for six weeks' well-paid leave for all fathers.

Take a few minutes to watch, then help us spread the word by sharing it with your network. Together, we can build support for a parental leave system that works better for families.

🎥 Watch the video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nOfjiMpWi7c

Learn more about the campaign: https://www.fatherhoodinstitute.org/six-weeks-for-dads

The UK's statutory paternity offer is the least generous in Europe,...

10/07/2026

Alison Clare recently joined 100 changemakers from around the world gathered in Rio de Janeiro for the first-ever MenCare Changemaker Summit.

Over four days, participants collaborated across seven action tracks focused on some of the most pressing challenges facing boys and men today – from health and education to online spaces, democracy, care policy, and belonging.

Together, they explored how caring masculinities can help build a more caring, connected, and equal world.

It’s great to see men’s caregiving recognised and validated on a global stage in this way. With fatherhood our focus, we’ve always been clear that if government policies and systems mainstreamed high-quality support for dads, the world would be a much better place.

We look forward to working with and alongside Equimundo: Center for Masculinities and Social Justice to achieve that vision.

Learn more about the MenCare Changemaker Journey: changemakers.equimundo.org

Learn more about the Fatherhood Institute’s strategy

www.fatherhoodinstitute.org/our-strategy

09/07/2026

What does work-life balance really look like for fathers?

Many dads want to be fully involved in family life while also succeeding at work. Yet, for too many, the way we work still makes that difficult.

Our latest blog explores why work-life balance remains such an important issue for fathers, families and employers.

It examines the challenges many dads face and what needs to change to help families thrive.

It's an important read for anyone interested in creating more family-friendly workplaces and supporting fathers to play an active role in their children's lives.

Read the full article 👇

www.fatherhoodinstitute.org/post/fathers-work-life-balance

University of Leeds