Extra Time with dad: Kick up a fuss for better paternity leave

This week, Ugo Monye and Troy Deeney were joined by dads and children from across the UK, including men who struggled with little or no paternity leave, to launch a new report with a kick-around in a Westminster park, with a twist that made the point before the final whistle blew.

The stunt: Ten minutes, then benched

Each match ran for exactly 10 minutes. That’s one minute for every day of statutory paternity leave currently available to UK fathers. When the whistle went, the dads were benched. The kids carried on playing as their fathers watched from the sidelines, missing out on extra time.

Every player wore a shirt with the number 6 on the back. This number represents the six weeks of statutory paternity leave paid at 90% of salary (capped) that campaigners including Movember and The Dad Shift are calling on the government to introduce.

What the data shows

The stunt coincided with the launch of a new joint report, 'Extra Time With Dad: Improving Men's Health through UK Paternity Leave', which reveals the scale of a hidden health crisis facing new fathers in a country where paternity leave is paid at just £194.32 per week. This is less than half the minimum wage.

New polling in the report found:

• 92% of Britons believe it's important for fathers to spend time with their babies in the early months of life
• 60% of the British public support increasing statutory paternity pay, dropping only four points when shown cost arguments
• 60% say spending quality time with children is becoming something only wealthy parents can afford
• 56% of Britons say politicians do not value the role played by fathers
• 50% of Britons and 51% of fathers cite financial pressure as the biggest barrier to taking extended leave
• Almost half (49%) say being a good father is what it means to be a "real man"

Previous polling by the organisations also shows the mental health stakes are high:

• 82% of fathers say better paternity leave is the single biggest thing government could do to support their mental health.
• 45% of UK fathers experience multiple symptoms of depression or anxiety in their baby's first year.
• Nearly 1 in 15 new dads experienced suicidal thoughts during that period.

Why it matters for men's health

Dr Zac Seidler, Director of Research at Movember, said:

"The weeks after a baby is born are unlike any other moment in a man’s life. He is motivated to be present, to be healthy, to show up. If we support him, with time, financial security, and connection, we can set him on a trajectory of better health that lasts decades. If we send him back to work after two weeks, sleep-deprived, financially stretched, and feeling guilty, we establish a very different trajectory. The evidence is clear. The ask is reasonable. The moment is now.

Voices from the pitch

Troy Deeney, Movember Ambassador, ex-footballer and broadcaster, spoke from personal experience:

"My youngest son was born in December 2019, I had to be back at work within 48hours which was really hard but I accepted it as part of my career as a footballer. I have recently had another baby and had much longer off which has made such a difference in terms of being able to support my partner and bond with my child. I wholeheartedly support this push for improved paternity leave in the UK.”

George Gabriel, Co-Founder of The Dad Shift, said:

"Literally everyone agrees, it's hugely important that men can be there in those first weeks and months to bond with their babies, support their partners, and figure out who they're going to be as fathers. The UK's leave is the worst in Europe and increasingly something only the wealthy can afford, we need extra time with dad."

What happens next

The event kicks off a week of activity ahead of Men's Health Week (15 - 21 June) and Father's Day.

On Monday 15 June, Movember will host a Speaker's House event bringing together MPs, charity leaders and advocates to discuss what meaningful paternity leave reform could look like and why it matters for men's health.

What you can do

Movember and The Dad Shift are calling on the public to kick up a fuss for better paternity leave. Be part of the solution -

• Sign the petition and share with others
• Download our report from The Movember Institute of Men's Health: 'Extra Time With Dad: Improving men's health through UK paternity leave'