How Aching Arms is Holding Space for Grieving Dads
Supporting Arms for Dads
When a baby dies, the world often looks to the mother — offering support, acknowledging her grief, and validating her pain. But for many dads, the loss is just as profound, even if it’s more quietly carried. Too often, fathers feel they have to be the strong one, the steady one, the one who keeps going. In the silence of that role, their own grief can go unseen, unspoken and unsupported.
That’s where Aching Arms steps in.
Through its Supporting Arms for Dads initiative, Aching Arms offers a vital space for bereaved fathers to be heard, to connect, and to grieve in their own way — without judgment, pressure, or expectation. From monthly online groups and one-to-one helpline support, to tailored resources like the “You are a dad… You always will be” guide, the charity is creating safe, understanding spaces where dads can speak freely or simply be surrounded by those who understand.
Whether you’re a father navigating baby loss yourself, or someone looking to better support the dads in your life, this blog explores how Aching Arms is helping break the silence — one conversation at a time.
Dads who have lost their baby need the opportunity to talk with other Dads who have gone through a similar experience.
Aching Arms offers a dedicated helpline number and a monthly online group just for Dads, offering the chance to gain support and comfort from speaking to others. The group is facilitated by Tom Donaldson, a bereaved Dad and member of our Supporting Arms Team.
Monthly Online Support
Our monthly online group for Dads are held on the first Monday of each month at 7:30pm (unless otherwise specified) and to get the Microsoft Teams link for each meeting please contact dadsupport@achingarms.co.uk.
Dads Helpline
If you who would like to speak 1;1 to another bereaved dad, the number for this is 07754 436133, you can text, leave a voicemail or email dadsupport@achingarms.co.uk and Tom will be in touch to arrange a suitable time to call you.
Our Guide for Bereaved Dads
You may have come home from the hospital with our dad’s guide ‘You are a dad…. You always will be’ if this is the case there are full details of all our support services for dads in the inside cover.
Take your time as you go through this book, there is no rush, it is created to be dipped in and out of as you move through the first few months following the loss of your baby.
Our Guides – ‘You are a dad…. You always will be’ is available for a limited time in our gift shop here.
Supporting Arms for Dads
Dads who have lost their baby need the opportunity to talk with other Dads who have gone through a similar experience.
Aching Arms offers a dedicated helpline number and a monthly online group just for Dads, offering the chance to gain support and comfort from speaking to others. The group is facilitated by Tom Donaldson, a bereaved Dad and member of our Supporting Arms Team.
All Dads are welcome and please note, you are free to share as much or as little as you would like.
Monthly Online Support
Our monthly online group for Dads are held on the first Monday of each month at 7:30pm (unless otherwise specified) and to get the Microsoft Teams link for each meeting please contact dadsupport@achingarms.co.uk.
Dads Helpline
If you who would like to speak 1;1 to another bereaved dad, the number for this is 07754 436133, you can text, leave a voicemail or email dadsupport@achingarms.co.uk and Tom will be in touch to arrange a suitable time to call you.
Aching Arm’s Guide for Bereaved Dads
You may have come home from the hospital with our dads guide ‘You are a dad…. You always will be’ if this is the case there are full details of all our support services for dads in the inside cover.
Take your time as you go through this book, there is no rush, it is created to be dipped in and out of as you move through the first few months following the loss of your baby.
Our Guides – ‘You are a dad…. You always will be’ is available for a limited time in our gift shop here.
Offload Campaign
Baby Loss is devastating, and for many dads, there is often little space to grieve, share their feelings or seek support. Men often feel like working environments adopt a tough, no-nonsense culture which makes opening up about feelings after baby loss extremely difficult and uncomfortable
OFFLOAD is an Aching Arms campaign, dedicated to supporting Dads in the construction industry who have experienced pregnancy and baby loss, helping them feel seen, heard and understood in their workplace.
Offload: Offload initiative: Supporting Dad’s in the construction industry
3 Dads Film
Aching Arm’s film, ‘3 Dads’ is powerful testimony that when babies die, their Dads, in spite of the masks they wear to appear strong to their partners and to the outside world, are hurting; their grief at times so intense and painful that the support of charities like Aching Arms becomes a critical lifeline.
Film: 3 Dads Film – Aching Arms
How can you support?
Link: Fundraise for Aching Arms by hosting a ‘Brew Crew’ event
Website: https://www.achingarms.co.uk/support-for-you/support-for-dads.aspx