Breathe Melodies for Dads on The One Show!

We’re incredibly proud to share that our pioneering Breathe Melodies for Dads programme was featured on The One Show last night, shining a national spotlight on the importance of supporting dads’ mental health and wellbeing during early parenthood.

Watch Breathe on The One Show.

This is a huge moment for Breathe and for giving new fathers the recognition they deserve.

For many years, we’ve championed maternal mental health through our internationally recognised Breathe Melodies for Mums programme, and we remain deeply committed to supporting mums and families. At the same time, we know that dads’ mental health is too often overlooked, despite the vital role they play in early bonding, family wellbeing and child development.

Last night’s feature helps move this conversation forward, towards greater equality, inclusion and access to support for all parents and family set ups.

Breathe Melodies for Dads

Breathe Melodies for Dads is our group singing programme, created to support dads and those in a fathering role during the early months of parenthood.

The programme is specially designed to meet the mental health needs of fathers and is not your usual baby group – through relaxed, creative music-making sessions, we support dads to strengthen the bond with their babies, build confidence in their parenting role, boost wellbeing, and meet others going through the same journey.

There are no nursery rhymes. No auditions. Just dedicated time for dads and their babies, whilst making music that feels good. Participants have told us they leave feeling more confident, less isolated, and more connected – both to their babies and to themselves.

Building the Future of Dads’ Mental Health Support

Following a pilot programme supported by Southwark Council, we are excited to have received funding from Arts Council England, to run new Breathe Melodies for Dads programmes over the next two years, both online and in person – reaching dads both locally and nationally.

Thanks to funding from The Psychiatry Research Trust, we will be partnering with King’s College London who will be leading a clinical research study evaluating the impact and outcomes of Breathe Melodies for Dads to better understand how creative, community-based interventions can support dads’ mental health and strengthen early parent-baby relationships. This work will be supported by qualitative research conducted by Queen Mary University London, thanks to funding from London Interdisciplinary Social Science Doctoral Training Partnership. This partnership will help to build a robust evidence base to improve services, influence policy and create stronger, more inclusive support systems for fathers and families across the UK.

We will always champion mums’ mental health and we’re equally committed to ensuring dads and other family set ups are seen, supported and included. All parents matter, and all deserve access to meaningful, evidence-based wellbeing support.