The number of single-father families in Mendip has risen in the past decade, according to recent census data.

The findings have led to calls from charities for better support for single fathers, particularly in areas of flexible work and mental health support.

The census data revealed 725 single dads living in Mendip as of March 2021, with 327 having dependent children under 16.

This makes up 15.8% of all lone-parent families in the area, an increase from 15.3% recorded in the 2011 Census.

Despite this rise, the majority of single-parent families remain headed by mothers, making up 84.2% of such households in Mendip.

Billy McGranaghan, founder of Dad's House, a UK charity that supports single fathers, highlights the distinct challenges single dads face.

"We have a lot of dads who move from full-time jobs to part-time jobs because employers aren't as willing to offer flexible hours," he said. "And on part-time, people just can't afford childcare. Things have gotten better than they used to be, but there still needs to be more support for dads."

McGranaghan further stresses the importance of mental health support for single fathers who often face societal pressures and stigma, leading to anxiety and feelings of isolation.

On a national scale, single-father households saw an increase, with over 368,000 recorded across England and Wales in 2021, up from 338,000 a decade earlier. However, the proportion of single fathers among lone parent families decreased slightly from 13.6% in 2011 to 13.4% in 2021.

Gingerbread, a charity for single-parent families, echoes McGranaghan's sentiment.

Victoria Benson, Gingerbread's CEO, says single parents face systemic unfairness, including stigma, judgement, and financial struggles. The charity hears from single fathers in their network who grapple with feelings of guilt and loneliness, often making it more difficult to seek support from friends or family.

"Single parents are often overlooked by policy makers and still experience stigma and judgment – as well as struggling financially, many feel isolated and alone and often feel overwhelmed," she said. "We know that it can be lonely and hard being a single parent and often single dads are forgotten. We need to see better support available for all single parent families so they can thrive and not just survive."