THIS Father's Day, a dads playgroup is celebrating its second year of providing community space in Amesbury.

The playgroup, which is run in partnership with the Nicolson Community Centre at MoD Boscombe Down, was set up for fathers to spend quality time with their little children and meet other dads.

Volunteer run Dadz & Kidz is the only group of its kind in the area, and welcomes around 20 dads and their children every Saturday morning.

READ MORE: Amesbury fire: Residents share their stories from blaze

The volunteers create a friendly and inviting space for dads to socialise with other dads and for their children to use the indoor soft play, racing track and outdoor play equipment provided by MoD Boscombe Down.

The group was inspired by a group of fathers who wanted a dedicated space for dads to socialise, share their parenting challenges and build confidence.

A small voluntary donation per child covers costs and also provides a small surplus for donating to various charities including the Salisbury Hospital Stars Appeal and Great Ormond Street.   

Tim Denholm, helps to run the group and has two children aged one and four.

He said: "Dadz and Kidz is a community group that welcomes all dads and their young children.

"Fathers often feel the odd one out in most parenting groups, and don’t often benefit from sharing their experiences with people in the same situation as themselves.

SEE ALSO: Amesbury fire councillor slams Stonewater housing

"We provide a space that normalises dads being the primary caregiver, and gives dads the chance to relax, socialise and enjoy more quality time with their kids, and we find the Mum’s enjoy getting the morning to themselves too. 

"It’s a friendly group and we always welcome new dads and their kids, every week volunteers bring snacks to share, and we sometimes organise social gatherings.

"This Father’s Day is a great opportunity for new dads to try out the group and we will be running a special craft theme throughout the morning.”

Dadz and Kidz runs every Saturday morning from 9:30am to 11:30am at the Nicolson Centre Amesbury and they ask for a voluntary donation of £2.20 per child over 1. For more information, visit their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/dadsandlittluns/