SAT DADS pic!

We had our first SAT DADS session on Saturday 8th October. We had 28 dads plus our team of five people supervising the event. The session lasted two hours in which dads played with their kids, and kids spent lots of time playing imaginatively with each other two. The popular sections of play were the Duplo, pretend kitchen area, and brand-new basketball zone.

Every child there between 0-6 years old had a great time, many of whom had never met each other before. The kids were also keen and joyful in their attempts to help with clear up at the end. The dads got opportunities to interact with the kids through various activities, as well as having conversations around parenthood with other adults.

Overall, the session was a great success and multiple people have already signed up for the session next month. One dad even asked if it could be a weekly event. Some mums also messaged us to thank us for a couple of quiet hours on a Saturday which we are sure will have been well earned.

We are really pleased with the impact this offering has had already!

SAT DADS
Team Pic Provided Via the team zoom call we just had at 19:00hrs on 14th September 2022.

SAT DADS will benefit the community by providing a semi-regular space where dads can provide their partners/spouses/co-parent with a rest, have time to connect/play with their children, and connect with other dads in the area. Clarendon Park is a reasonably tight-knit urban village and St John's school is a vital part of the area, linked heavily with the church across the road. With two thriving mothers' groups already running at St Johns church, SAT DADS provides a similar opportunity to cover what is a well sought-after gap in the family/community list of needs/desires. Children have a chance to build memories with their dads and other kids based around exploration, imagination and other unstructured play. Dads have a chance to re-connect and build strong relationships in a time where COVID may have hindered or damaged that possibility.

ACTION PLAN:
Three dates planned for term 1....
October 8 // November 12 // December 10

Promotion: Flyers have been created (some already given out)
Online promotion via email and social media
Word of mouth (old school but still works!)

Set Up: Friday Night set up at St Johns Church
All activities set out appropriately
Barriers set up for child safety
Speciality coffee brewed and provided by Outpost Coffee
Catering sorted Friday daytime via Costco (allergies included)

Saturday group: Arrive early for final set up (9.20-9.30am)
Welcome parents and kids
Ensure parents look after their own kids
Provide imaginative/free play within session
Building will be well aerated throughout session
All participants who wish to wear a facemask may do so

Pack down: Ensure all parents and kids have safely left other than team
Pack all activities and equipment away
Clean / hoover etc
Lock up building (including alarm)

Post-event: Begin promotion of next session
Includes creation of new promotion materials if after christmas

Seed Money:
Logo: £11
Printing £24
Coffee: £16 (x3) = £48
Catering: £50 (x3) = £150
Play Equipment: £200
Unplanned Expenses: £67

Hi All,
Glad to be here.

email and guide received