John Taylor, 41, from Derker, was nominated for his volunteering with Men Behaving Dadly, where he has been involved since 2021.
The delivery driver, who is a single parent to a 10-year-old son, received a certificate and a £50 shopping voucher from the housing association’s funding and social value officer Kevin Field.
An FCHO customer, John said meeting other dads facing similar challenges had helped him and he wanted others to have the same support.
He said, “Coming to MBD has always been a weight off my shoulders and I wanted to make sure everyone is welcome to come to the group which meets every Saturday so they can feel the same.”
The sessions give children space to play, do crafts and take part in activities while their dads catch up.
John said, “You can see visible differences to the children’s confidence too. Some were so shy when they first started coming and now they bound in and they’re off playing for the whole session. It’s brilliant for everyone involved.”
Rachel Graham, activity coordinator at Men Behaving Dadly, nominated him for the award.
She said, “John plays a vital role in engaging and supporting new dads.”
“He is often the first to welcome new attendees with a smile and a cuppa, helping them feel comfortable, included, and confident to return.”
Rachel said John also promotes the group at community events, parks and libraries, helps set up sessions and organise trips, and takes part in litter picks.
