Thousands of Dads Losing their Kids Still Have the Right to be ‘Appy’ this Fathers’ Day

Social app helps dads find new interests.

A new social app is set to revolutionise the way dads can rebuild a social life – after recovering from losing their children from the family home, for example. Social app wouldlovetogo will make finding new things to do easier, not just for dads but for a whole range of people looking to re-connect socially, without any dating involved.

This Fathers’ Day, 19 June, there will be an estimated 114,000 men recovering from losing their children from their home within the last two years. According to experts, many fathers who find themselves in this situation go through a grieving process. The expert advice is clear; don’t feel pressured to date for at least two to three years, and don’t isolate socially.

Crucially, at a time when these men find themselves with more free time than they have had for years, they often look around and find their pre-fatherhood social circles have diminished to zero.

Heather Curtis, counsellor and therapist, says: “Separated fathers have a lot to deal with emotionally, and often don’t have enough support. Frequently they rush into a new relationship, whereas what might be more beneficial is to become involved in a social, rather than emotional, connection.”

Carl Dennie, founder of wouldlovetogo, says: “We all go through many life situation changes, and at times can find ourselves needing to give our social lives a boost. We live in a transient society and as we live longer we will experience more changes within our lifetime; we relocate, relationships end, children leave home, we freelance. At times like these, wouldlovetogo provides a simple and easy way to find like-minded people to share activities with, from finding a squash buddy or someone to watch Euro 2016 with.”

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Notes to Editors:

1. Heather Curtis is a practicing counsellor, psychotherapist, and trainer with over 20 years’ clinical experience. Accredited to the BACP (British Association of Counselling and Psychotherapy), she specialises in relationships and post-trauma.
2. Carl Dennie is founder and CEO of social app wouldlovetogo. He lives in London with his partner and their four-year old son.
3. Wouldlovetogo is an app and fully-responsive website to enable grown-ups of all ages, genders, and backgrounds to enjoy new social connections. It is not a dating site. The beta version of the app launched in May 2016 with a hard launch coming in summer 2016. It is set to revolutionise how people make new friends in an age where people increasingly struggle to establish meaningful connections. While most sites aimed at meeting new people are purely centred on romantic liaisons, wouldlovetogo is for those who want to build new friendships. For adults, making new friends can be difficult. Whether we’ve moved somewhere new for a job, are a busy professional constantly on the road, or we’ve been left with an empty nest, it is not uncommon as an adult to be left with a gap in your social life. Wouldlovetogo aims to fill in these gaps by bringing people together via their shared interests and hobbies.App requires iOS 7.1 or later and is compatible with iPhone, iPad, and iPod touch. Free. An Android app is in development and due to be released soon. App founded and developed in London by Carl Dennie. www.wouldlovetogo.com
4. There are 992,307 fathers whose children do not live with them (http://www.fatherhoodinstitute.org/2013/new-study-shows-9-in-10-non-resident-dads-still-have-contact/) and whilst the vast majority who suddenly find themselves in this position will go on to maintain a close relationship and regular contact with their children, they will also find themselves going through a prolonged period of turmoil and having to rebuild a new life and find their place within it during the first few years.
5. The five stages of grief were developed by Dr. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross over 30 years ago. The five stages, widely accepted today, are: denial and isolation, anger, bargaining, depression, and acceptance. http://www.ekrfoundation.org
6. Research from the Fatherhood Institute found “the overall picture of contact between fathers and non-resident children is a positive one, with 59 per cent reporting seeing or contacting children not living with them at least once a week and 81 per cent saying they are very or quite close with their children. The report also reveals that an estimated 129,000 of men (13% of non-resident fathers) say they have no contact at all with their children.” http://www.fatherhoodinstitute.org/2013/new-study-shows-9-in-10-non-resident-dads-still-have-contact/
7. Most divorces occur for couples aged 40-44 years. There are 114,720 divorces a year Almost half (48%) of couples divorcing in 2013 had at least 1 child aged under 16 living in the family. http://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/birthsdeathsandmarriages/divorce/bulletins/divorcesinenglandandwales/2013

Sources:
http://www.divorce360.com/divorce-articles/effects/emotional/for-men-mourning-the-divorce.aspx?artid=394
http://www.modernfatherhood.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/05/BSA-presentation.pdf

Photograph & Caption:
Carl Dennie, founder of wouldlovetogo.

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