Alfred Robbins Lodge

More than 500 marginalised fathers in Lewisham and Southwark will receive targeted support to build stronger, more involved relationships with their children, thanks to a grant from London Freemasons to the Future Men charity.

The £60,000 grant will help sustain Future Men's Fathers' Development Programme, which works with expectant and new fathers — many living in poverty or facing multiple disadvantages — to strengthen parenting confidence, mental wellbeing and family stability during their children’s crucial early years (0-5).

Through intensive one-to-one mentoring, group sessions and community outreach, the project supports fathers who are often excluded from mainstream services. Many are young, formerly in care, or facing challenges such as unemployment, poor mental health or involvement with the criminal justice system. Over 75 per cent are from ethnic minority backgrounds, and 68 per cent live in the most deprived areas of the two boroughs.

The programme helps these men become positive, engaged caregivers, improving outcomes for their children and families. Research shows that active father involvement significantly enhances children's emotional development, cognitive outcomes and school readiness — yet these fathers frequently feel judged, invisible or unwelcome in services designed primarily around maternal engagement.

The charity already has strong relationships with statutory partners including Social Care, Early Help, Youth Offending Services and NHS Maternity services, with referral pathways well established.

Future Men's approach combines flexibility with consistency. Fathers can access one-off information sessions with no commitment or build trust over time through intensive casework. The programme includes practical parenting support, advocacy to access other services, employment and housing support, and peer connection through group activities.

Service users are central to the work—fathers participate in the Fathers Forum, the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Fathers, and the London-wide Young Dads Council, directly shaping service delivery and influencing policy at local and national level.

In 2024/25 alone, Future Men's team supported 353 fathers and delivered 236 events engaging 1,360 professionals across statutory services.

The grant from London Freemasons comes through the Masonic Charitable Foundation, which is funded by Freemasons, their families and friends, from across England and Wales.

Owen Thomas, Head of Fathers’ Programme at Future Men, said:

"We're hugely grateful to London Freemasons for supporting our work with fathers who are so often overlooked. When dads are supported and confident, children thrive—emotionally, socially and academically. This grant will make a real difference to families living in challenging circumstances and help us reach even more fathers at this critical time in their lives."

Will Clayton from London Freemasons, said:

“I’m really pleased we’ve been able to support Future Men with this hugely important project helping fathers of young children to play a positive role in their children’s upbringing. There is overwhelming evidence to show that young children benefit enormously by having a father in their lives and this wonderful charity are working with hundreds of fathers from across South London.”