Becoming a grandparent for the first time sparked a surprising observation for me: my daughter-in-law seamlessly tapped every local resource for new mothers, yet my son Max seemed to navigate a barren landscape of support for new fathers. As a retired community health nurse, I had expected a balanced network, but the reality was a stark contrast between bustling mum groups and the quiet solitude of dads.
New mothers naturally gravitate toward one another, forming informal circles that amplify the reach of prenatal classes mother-and-baby groups, and local cafés. My daughter-in-law’s rapid connection to these services highlighted how well-established the infrastructure is for moms. In stark opposition, a dedicated space for dads was missing—until a carpenter from Essex stepped in.
Luke Suddards creates a low-barrier community
Luke Suddards, a 37-year-old carpenter and joiner originally from Essex, met Max during a Baby Bump prenatal class. Their brief chats over drinks revealed a common frustration: the scarcity of dad-focused gatherings. Luke recounted his journey on my podcast Your Outside Mindset
“There were two parts to this. I had physically moved away from a close-knit group of guy friends. And psychologically, I had moved on from where I was in terms of that young guy, going out and drinking and all the fun things you do in your 20s. A lot of my friends from east London were a bit younger, or they were older and had moved out of the city.”
He continued, “Not long after I moved to southwest London, we got pregnant, and finding this community was put on the back burner. Everything became about being a new dad, which was amazing. Still, there was this niggle in my head that I was missing out on sharing the journey with people in the same place as me.”
Motivated to fill the void, Luke envisioned a meet-up that required minimal effort—perfect for exhausted new dads. Chelsea, his partner, runs a café on the edge of Battersea Park. The plan was simple: gather for a free coffee at the District Café near Battersea Park at 9:30 a.m., then embark on a lap of the park with babies in prams. The name, Walking Dad Club is a playful nod to the zombie series The Walking Dead reflecting the feeling of “being a walking zombie” that many new fathers admit.
The club in action: growth and impact
Since its launch, the club meets on the first and third Sunday of each month. Attendance quickly surpassed expectations; strangers arrive, greet each other over coffee, and walk together beneath the park’s towering trees. The coffee-first format lowers the entry barrier, allowing dads to chat informally before the stroll. Luke notes, “the number of people turning up and how much people need this” surprised him, emphasizing both regulars and newcomers as signs of a healthy, expanding network.
While the walk lasts roughly 45 minutes, research I’ve referenced in my writings shows that even five minutes in green space can boost mood, sharpen thinking, and aid problem-solving. For these fathers, the park walk delivers a triple benefit: exposure to nature, meaningful social interaction, and shared laughter with their infants. Photographs captured during a recent Sunday show smiling dads, babies giggling, and passers-by pausing to snap the uplifting scene.
Both Luke and Max report looking forward to these Sundays. The routine offers a space to discuss the challenges of early fatherhood, exchange parenting tips, and simply enjoy the quiet companionship of peers. As the community expands, the ripple effect reaches beyond the park—a testament to how a modest, free activity can nurture a lasting community of dads.
Looking ahead: a global vision
Luke imagines the concept scaling worldwide. He envisions 9:30 a.m. on the first Sunday of each month, fathers across continents dusting themselves off, giving their partners a kiss, and heading to the nearest café to join other dads for a walk. “It is so easy to do, so easy to repeat, and there is so much positivity. I do not see why it cannot happen everywhere,” he says. The simplicity of coffee, a stroller, and a park makes replication feasible in any city with a green space.
For me, observing this movement reinforces the importance of balanced support structures. While mums have long benefited from community resources, the rise of the Walking Dad Club illustrates that dads, too, thrive when offered a place to belong. As more fathers embrace these strolls, the cultural narrative around early parenting may shift, acknowledging that both parents deserve accessible, enjoyable avenues to connect.
