Dad Matters brings our pool of dads, organisations and professionals together to give you some company as you raise your troops.

Our pool of dads returns to discuss the best ways to keep a positive mindset when the habit of self-criticism creeps into your parenting. 

Dad Matters brings our pool of dads, organisations and professionals together to give you some company as you raise your troops.

All of us have been affected by the coronavirus lockdown in some way.

Singers in choirs have felt the strain of having the outlet for their passion restricted.

Some have found new ways to carry on, while others have had to remain silent. Some have even joined the singing for the first time.

Tom McCooey has found out, from a safe distance, what it has been like.

Staying at home has encouraged many to take up baking, but this has left the flour industry struggling to keep up with demand.

Bakers in Merseyside are trying to find ways to carry on through the shortage.

Those that have made it a business are coming up with new ways to attract customers during lockdown. Tom McCooey reports.

Reaction to Wigan Athletic entering administration. 

Dads-to-be are still missing pregnancy milestones, despite lockdown measures easing in other areas of life.

As well as missing highs such as scans and hearing their baby’s heartbeat, some are also having to be absent during times of worry.

But a charity in the North West is on hand to provide support for those waiting in hospital car parks while their partners attend appointments and scans.

Dad Matters is a charity working across Greater Manchester to support dads during their child’s early years. They have a mobile stall at Bolton Hospital to provide support.

Project manager Kieran Anders said: “We’ve always known that to reach Dads with those crucial messages about early relationships and mental health, we need to go to them. This innovative way of meeting Dads during such unfathomable challenges means more will get those messages, understand their role and be able to find support when they need it.”

National guidelines state mums-to-be should attend appointments on their own.

Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation trust confirmed dads are unable to attend appointments, while Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said dads were only allowed to attend the 20-week scan.

A spokesperson said: “We know that partners often like to attend antenatal appointments, however our priority must be the safety of all mums-to-be and their babies.

“This is why expectant mums are currently asked to attend antenatal appointments alone, with the exception of the 20 week scan where partners are welcome to attend. Individual arrangements are also made for women with exceptional support needs.”

Natalie Patterson, Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Midwives’ team leader at Bolton NHS FT said:“We know this is a difficult time for everyone due to the COVID 19 restrictions. As a maternity service we have been very aware that dads are missing out on being present during appointments, scans and the early hours and days after birth. Whilst this is necessary to ensure safety of patients and staff we want to acknowledge how hard this is for families expecting a baby.”

John Strange lives in Stalybridge and is set to become a dad for the first time in four weeks.

He said: “If you look at the bigger picture, this is affecting hundreds of people in the area, not to mention thousands across the UK.

“That’s why you need to remember that it will get resolved and we did have the feeling that if there were any health concerns, they were there.”

Dads-to-be are still missing pregnancy milestones, despite lockdown measures easing in other areas of life.

As well as missing highs such as scans and hearing their baby’s heartbeat, some are also having to be absent during times of worry.

But a charity in the North West is on hand to provide support for those waiting in hospital car parks while their partners attend appointments and scans.

Dad Matters is a charity working across Greater Manchester to support dads during their child’s early years. They have a mobile stall at Bolton Hospital to provide support.

Project manager Kieran Anders said: “We’ve always known that to reach Dads with those crucial messages about early relationships and mental health, we need to go to them. This innovative way of meeting Dads during such unfathomable challenges means more will get those messages, understand their role and be able to find support when they need it.”

National guidelines state mums-to-be should attend appointments on their own.

Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation trust confirmed dads are unable to attend appointments, while Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust said dads were only allowed to attend the 20-week scan.

A spokesperson said: “We know that partners often like to attend antenatal appointments, however our priority must be the safety of all mums-to-be and their babies.

“This is why expectant mums are currently asked to attend antenatal appointments alone, with the exception of the 20 week scan where partners are welcome to attend. Individual arrangements are also made for women with exceptional support needs.”

Natalie Patterson, Specialist Perinatal Mental Health Midwives’ team leader at Bolton NHS FT said:“We know this is a difficult time for everyone due to the COVID 19 restrictions. As a maternity service we have been very aware that dads are missing out on being present during appointments, scans and the early hours and days after birth. Whilst this is necessary to ensure safety of patients and staff we want to acknowledge how hard this is for families expecting a baby.”

John Strange lives in Stalybridge and is set to become a dad for the first time in four weeks.

He said: “If you look at the bigger picture, this is affecting hundreds of people in the area, not to mention thousands across the UK.

“That’s why you need to remember that it will get resolved and we did have the feeling that if there were any health concerns, they were there.”

Follow the journey of the 253rd West Lancashire Field Company, Royal Engineers from D-Day to VE Day.

Classic car writers Andy Talbot and Tom McCooey talk about how they’ve been getting their automotive fix during lockdown.  

Andy's VW Iltis is finally on the road, and we talk about his wish list as motorists start to go topless. 

Meanwhile, Tom is still on foot as the ZA's completion is still no nearer. But far from wasting his time, he's been reading all about a particular motorway bridge.  

Andy Talbot is a motoring writer and TV car show narrator and an enthusiast of the more unusual VWs. He is a contributor to Classic Car Weekly and the likes of Octane, Volksworld etc. He can be heard every week as the voice of ITV4 & Discovery Motor Trend TV’s AUTO MUNDIAL and a number of weekly motorsport shows on Sky, ESPN, Motor Trend. Unrelated to classic cars fact: Has been the voice of Alpecin shampoo ads on ITV. 

Tom McCooey is a freelance journalist and contributor to Classic Car Weekly. A former sports reporter for the Wigan Observer, Tom is now studying for a Master’s in Broadcast Journalism at the University of Central Lancashire. He has also written for national titles.  Unrelated to classic cars fact: He was in a band which once opened for Bon Jovi.

Classic car writers Andy Talbot and Tom McCooey talk about how they’ve been getting their automotive fix during lockdown.  

This week Andy gives an update on the progress of his VW Iltis, and we discuss how car culture is evolving through lockdown. And have you looked up registrations from your old cars? 

We have had some good and bad news from our searches.  Andy Talbot is a motoring writer and TV car show narrator and an enthusiast of the more unusual VWs. He is a contributor to Classic Car Weekly and the likes of Octane, Volksworld etc.  

He can be heard every week as the voice of ITV4 & Discovery Motor Trend TV’s AUTO MUNDIAL and a number of weekly motorsport shows on Sky, ESPN, Motor Trend.  Unrelated to classic cars fact: Has been the voice of Alpecin shampoo ads on ITV. Tom McCooey is a freelance journalist and contributor to Classic Car Weekly. 

A former sports reporter for the Wigan Observer, Tom is now studying for a Master’s in Broadcast Journalism at the University of Central Lancashire.  He has also written for national titles.  Unrelated to classic cars fact: He was in a band which once opened for Bon Jovi.