May 2013 IN DADS SHOES PHOTOGRAPHY: 10,000 VISITORS ON Nationwide exhibition on single fathers, supported by the Department for

Work and Pensions

This unique nationwide exhibition featuring single and lone fathers with their children in a series of powerful photographs, was launched in the House of Lords last year and is still going strong. With over 10,000 visitors to the exhibition to date, it is being welcomed back to Kensington and Chelsea for yet another showing. Created by DadsHousei, an organisation dedicated to providing support for single fathers and the only one of its kind in the UK, the In Dads Shoes exhibition is being shown at The Builders Armsii from May 13th to 17th June. Back by popular demand, this exhibition highlights the intimate bond between parent and child and gives a rarely seen glimpse of fathers and their children at play, at work and at rest. The exhibition has already been hosted at The House of Lords, The Scottish Parliament and several locations in London and continues to push our boundaries and question our view of fathers in todays family unit. Single and lone fathers face a terrible stigma in todays Britain, often perceived as dis-interested in their children and out of touch with their responsibilities, yet the overwhelming majority of fathers want to play an active role in their childrens lives. There are currently over 2 million single dads in the UK and over 200,000 single dads looking after their children aloneiii. But help and support is not reaching these fathers and as a result, many fathers feel alienated and marginalised. And without much needed support, it becomes harder and harder to spend time with their children. William McGranaghan, Founder of DadsHouse says: This is a vital exhibition, highlighting the need to support single dads and their kids and to help promote father-friendly services. Maria Miller MPiv feels very strongly about supporting fathers: Fathers can and should continue to play a vitally important role in their childrens lives. This is why we are committed to working in partnership with organisations like DadsHouse, whose work is excellent. Lord Listowelv says: As Treasurer of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Children I very warmly welcome this opportunity to remind us of the importance of our fathers and to celebrate the care given by lone fathers to their childrne. I hope we can see improved support and opportunities for lone fathers in the future thanks to the efforts of Dadshouse and of Mr McGranaghan, Natasha Phillips and their colleagues to raise the profile of this overlooked group. Thank you also to Natalie Naccache, for providing such lovely photos for the exhibition.

For further information please contact: Natasha Phillips 07769 647 983 Sobk13@gmail.com

Notes to editors:

DadsHouse is an organisation which focuses on helping single fathers get the support they need, post separation, divorce or bereavement.
ii

This is an open event. The Independent, 12 June 2010

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iv

Maria Miller MP was the Parliamentary Under Secretary of State and Minister for Disabled People at the Department for Work and Pensions in 2012 and is an advocate of the DadsHouse project. She was responsible for several areas, including families and child maintenance. Ms Miller is now Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport.
v

Lord Listowel is an independent cross-bench peer, vice chair of the Associate Parliamentary Group for children and young people in care and leaving care, and trustee of the Adolescent and Children's Trust and the Michael Sieff Foundation.