Leading fathers’ charity DadsHouse has received the Prime Minister’s Point of Light Award. The prestigious award is a personal ‘thank you’ from the Prime Minister, which recognises outstanding individuals who are making positive changes in their communities and around the world.
The award has been given to Dads House on the Day of the Single Parent (March 20) to honour the work Dads House does in supporting single fathers. Dads House CEO Billy McGranaghan will be given a certificate and a signed letter from Prime Minister Theresa May at a ceremony due to take place in the Houses of Parliament.
The government has issued a press release about Dads House receiving the award:
PM awards outstanding single fathers charity founder
The Prime Minister has today, 20 March, recognised William McGranaghan, known as Billy, from London, for providing support for single fathers.
Billy is the founder of ‘Dads House’, a charity providing practical support to single fathers across the UK. After supporting his son as a single parent, Billy realised the lack of provision for fathers raising their children alone, despite 200,000 fathers across the UK acting as their main carers. He established ‘Dads House’ in 2008 to provide practical support and advice for single fathers, such as parenting and mindfulness courses, as well as serving as a social hub to bring fathers and their children together. Within the first year of launching, over 1,400 fathers signed up as members for the charity, and following continued expansion, a new hub was established in Kent in 2013. Billy is now working closely with Government to inform policy on supporting fathers in the workplace and early parenthood, working closely with the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Single Parents chaired by Rupa Huq MP.
Billy is the latest recipient of the Points of Light award, which recognises outstanding volunteers who are making a change in their community and inspiring others. Each day, someone, somewhere in the country is selected to receive the award to celebrate their remarkable achievements. Billy’s award coincides with the Day of the Single Parent.
In a personal letter to Billy, Prime Minister Theresa May said:
“Through ‘Dads House’ you are bringing together dads to share their experiences and receive practical and emotional support. Drawing on your own experience, you are connecting single fathers across the country and having a profound impact on their lives and the lives of their families.”
Billy said:
“It’s so nice to be given the award, as there are so many dads who are at a loss on what to do with the little ones, and ‘Dads House’ is a point of contact.”
Billy is the 1148th winner of the Points of Light award, which has been developed in partnership with the hugely successful Points of Light programme in the USA. Over 6,000 Points of Light have been awarded in the USA, and former Presidents have publicly supported the partnership with Points of Light UK. There is a similar cross-party approach to the UK programme and MPs from different parties often present their constituents with their Points of Light awards.
Regardless of whether it’s a doctor restoring local monuments in her free time, a father teaching young people life skills, or a local musician giving a voice to lonely people, the Points of Light award honours shining examples of volunteering across the UK.
Notes to Editors
1. The Points of Light awards recognise outstanding individual volunteers, people who are making a change in their community and inspiring others.
2. The Prime Minister makes daily announcements of the winners to celebrate, encourage and promote volunteering and the value that it brings to the country.
3. If people know someone who could be a Point of Light they should write to the Prime Minister at 10 Downing Street.
4. Website: www.pointsoflight.gov.uk
Researching Reform is absolutely thrilled for Dads House and delighted that the government has acknowledged Billy as a pioneer and outstanding charity head in family welfare. We hope the government will continue to support the charity’s mission so that Dads House can carry on growing, and expand its much needed services.
