We Are There for the Quiet Moments
Every week, thousands of fathers experience one of the most emotionally difficult moments of parenthood.
The hugs are over. The car seats are empty. The house falls silent.
For many fathers, this is when loneliness, isolation and poor mental health begin to take hold.
This is the moment Dads Love CIC exists for.
We don't just support fathers in crisis. We support them before they reach crisis.
Through peer support, football, fitness, wellbeing activities, coffee mornings and family events, we help fathers stay connected, healthier and engaged in their children's lives.
When fathers are supported, children benefit. Families become stronger. Communities become healthier.
Registered Community Interest Company
Dads Love CIC is an officially registered Community Interest Company (CIC), incorporated in England and Wales.
- Company Number: 17355551
- Date of Incorporation: 22 July 2026
- Legal Structure: Company Limited by Guarantee
Our organisation has been approved by the Office of the Regulator of Community Interest Companies and incorporated by Companies House, demonstrating our commitment to operating transparently for community benefit.
The following page contains our official Companies House Certificate of Incorporation.
Companies House Certificate of Incorporation
Executive Summary
Dads Love CIC is a Community Interest Company working to strengthen the relationship between fathers and their children at the moment when that relationship is most at risk. Our programmes target fathers who are separated from their children — particularly during the period immediately following child contact, when isolation, loneliness and poor mental health are most acute — and provide practical, meaningful and professionally supported activity to help them remain present, resilient and positive.
Dads Love CIC is founded and led by Richard McMullen — an entrepreneur, community leader and father whose personal experience of separation sits at the heart of everything the organisation does.
Over 15 years, Richard has founded and led five businesses across recruitment, e-commerce, fashion and community enterprise. He operated government-supported back-to-work programmes, working directly with vulnerable individuals who faced significant barriers to employment — taking candidates shopping for interview suits, coaching them through the application process, building their confidence, and connecting them with employers. He ran a recruitment business placing IT professionals into senior, high-paid roles across London. He has built organisations, managed teams, raised funding and delivered results in both commercial and community settings. His FA Playmaker coaching qualification and ten years of active coaching — including four years at International Fussball Akademie in Vienna — are part of his story, but they are one chapter of many.
He is supported by Mindy Tagliente (Wellbeing & Safeguarding Director / DSL) and Anthony Jeffrey (Director of Operations) — both confirmed in post. Full biographies, photos and qualifications are in Section 3.
Individual applications tailored to each funder's priorities
A Confirmed, Capable Team — Ready to Deliver
Dads Love CIC does not need to recruit a team. It already has one. Three directors are confirmed in post, supported by a fourth specialist team member — four people with distinct, complementary skills, and a combined story that reflects exactly the communities this organisation exists to serve.
| Person | Role | What they bring |
|---|---|---|
| Richard McMullen | Founder & Director | 15 years building businesses. Government back-to-work delivery. Recruitment. E-commerce. Community enterprise. A father who travels Europe fortnightly to see his daughter. The person who started this because he had to. |
| Mindy Tagliente | Wellbeing & Safeguarding Director / DSL | 30 years of professional wellbeing practice. A Minister. A CBT therapist. A woman who has sat with grief, loss and identity for three decades across seven countries — and who has personal experience of parental separation. The person fathers will open up to. |
| Anthony Jeffrey | Director of Operations – Logistics, Catering & Events | Built a business from a home kitchen to festival stages. Was homeless at 20. Sponsored his local football team. Feeds his community for free when stock is left over. A single father. A man who has rebuilt himself more than once — and who knows exactly what it takes. |
| Santiago | Bilingual Mentor | Bachelor's degree in Economics. Fluent in eight languages. Five years training and mentoring children and adolescents in football, alongside experience as a social worker and trained mentor/coach. A single father, opening sessions to fathers across the UK who don't speak English. |
Full team profiles, qualifications and experience are in Section 3.
Year 1 Targets
Why We Exist — The Story Behind Dads Love CIC
Richard McMullen's daughter, Natalia, lives in Vienna. Every fortnight, Richard travels from the UK to Austria — a journey of several hours each way — to spend time with her. He does this consistently, without exception, because he understands that showing up is the most important thing a father can do.
Richard McMullen with his daughter, Natalia
But Richard knows that not every father has the means, the mental strength or the support to keep showing up. He has seen what happens when a father loses that thread — when separation becomes distance, and distance becomes absence. He lost a close friend to suicide after that friend could no longer cope with being separated from his son. That loss became a defining moment.
Dads Love CIC exists because of what Richard witnessed and what he lives every day. It exists for every father who loves his children but feels cut off, unsupported and invisible to the services around him. It exists to fill the gap between the moment a father says goodbye to his child and the moment he sees them again — and to make that gap less painful, less isolating and less dangerous.
The Dads Love Recovery Window
Dads Love CIC has been designed specifically around this period of vulnerability. Every programme strand — football, boxing, wellbeing sessions, cinema nights, family days — is available to fathers in the days following contact. Mindy Tagliente's fortnightly Zoom wellbeing sessions are timed to align with the standard contact cycle, ensuring that professional, warm, non-clinical support is available precisely when fathers need it most.
This is not a generic men's group. It is a purposefully designed programme built around a specific, evidenced moment of risk — with a qualified, experienced team in place to respond to it.
Evidence of Need
| Statistic | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Children not living with both biological parents by age 16 | ~50% | Millennium Cohort Study, UCL, 2023 |
| Fathers losing meaningful contact within 2 years of separation | 1 in 4 | Gingerbread / DWP, 2023 |
| Male vs female suicide rate | 3.6x higher | ONS Suicides in England and Wales, 2024 |
| Annual cost of family breakdown to UK public services | £51 billion | Relationships Foundation, 2023 |
| ROI on early father intervention (per £1 spent) | Up to £8 | Early Intervention Foundation, 2023 |
| Children with involved fathers at risk of behavioural difficulties | 40% less likely | EIF Best Start for Life, 2021 |
| North East suicide rate (highest English region) | 15.1 per 100,000 | ONS, 2024 |
| London children growing up in poverty | 1 in 3 | Trust for London, 2025 |
| Liverpool child poverty rate (multiple wards) | >40% | End Child Poverty Coalition, 2024 |
Meet the Team
Richard McMullen — Founder & Director
Richard McMullen is the Founder and sole Director of Dads Love CIC. Over the past 15 years, he has founded and led five businesses across recruitment, e-commerce, fashion and community enterprise — combining entrepreneurial leadership with a strong and consistent commitment to supporting people and building organisations that create lasting social impact.
Richard has successfully established and managed recruitment businesses, working closely with employers and jobseekers to develop sustainable employment opportunities. He has worked directly with government-supported back-to-work schemes, supporting vulnerable individuals facing barriers to employment — providing interview preparation, confidence-building, employer engagement and practical assistance including helping people access professional clothing and reconnect with the world of work. He has also operated a recruitment business placing IT professionals into high-paid roles at major London organisations, developing strong networks across the corporate and community sectors.
Alongside his commercial career, Richard founded the Dads Love clothing brand, building an engaged online community of 16,500+ followers that now supports the awareness and outreach mission of Dads Love CIC. He is an FA Playmaker qualified coach (FAN 68496719) with ten years of active coaching experience, including four years at International Fussball Akademie in Vienna under former professional footballer Goki Yilmaz and periods coaching at Rapid Vienna.
His own lived experience as a father — including regularly travelling across Europe to maintain his relationship with his daughter Natalia — inspired the creation of Dads Love CIC. That experience, combined with his background in business development, recruitment, employability and community engagement, shapes the organisation's practical, relationship-centred approach.
As Founder and Director, Richard holds overall responsibility for strategic leadership, governance, financial oversight, funding strategy, safeguarding accountability, regulatory compliance, partnerships and long-term organisational development.
Qualifications (verified — England Football FAN 68496719)
| Qualification | Category | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| BT Playmaker Award, by England Football | Coaching — Core | 9 January 2022 | Completed |
| CPD: Kick-Start Your Coaching Philosophy | Coaching — CPD | 26 January 2022 | Completed |
| Introduction to Talent Identification in Football | Talent ID | 9 January 2022 | Completed |
| Safeguarding Adults | Safeguarding | 26 January 2022 | Completed |
- Founded and led five businesses over 15 years across recruitment, e-commerce, fashion and community enterprise
- Operated government-supported back-to-work programmes supporting vulnerable individuals back into employment
- Recruitment business placing IT professionals into high-paid London roles
- Ten years active football coaching including Rapid Vienna and International Fussball Akademie under ex-professional Goki Yilmaz
- Founder of Dads Love brand — 16,500+ Instagram followers, 13,000+ monthly profile views
- Personal connections to professional sport through godson Jayden Danns (Liverpool FC) and cousin Leon McKenzie (professional footballer and boxer)
Mindy Tagliente — Wellbeing & Safeguarding Director (confirmed in post)
Mindy Tagliente
Wellbeing & Safeguarding Director
Mindy Tagliente is a Commissioned Minister based in London with over 30 years of professional experience across coaching, counselling, therapeutic support and youth ministry. She brings a rare combination of clinical expertise, pastoral warmth and lived personal understanding to Dads Love CIC — including her own experience of parental separation, which gives her direct insight into both the father's grief and the child's perspective. This dual understanding enables her to help fathers make sense of their role with greater clarity and compassion.
Mindy is a qualified Cognitive Behavioural Therapist, Life Coach, Mental Health First Aider, Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction practitioner and Counselling Level 2 practitioner. She holds safeguarding responsibility in faith settings as a youth ministry leader. She has supported emotional resilience across corporate and community settings — delivering therapeutic coaching to senior executives at PwC and supporting teams at Gap and John Lewis through the pandemic — bringing evidence-based approaches to high-stress, high-need environments.
- Her role as a Commissioned Minister provides a unique pastoral dimension — the ability to support fathers through grief, loss, identity and purpose, which sits at the heart of what many separated fathers experience
- Culturally sensitive wellbeing practice delivered across seven countries
- 30+ years supporting individuals through anxiety, distress, self-harm, life transitions and bereavement
- Role at Dads Love CIC: Leading fortnightly Zoom group wellbeing sessions timed to align with the contact cycle — professional, warm and consistent support during the Recovery Window
Anthony Jeffrey — Director of Operations – Logistics, Catering & Events (confirmed in post)
Anthony Jeffrey
Director of Operations
Anthony Jeffrey, 37, was born and raised in Islington, North London. His story is one of reinvention, resilience and deep-rooted community commitment — and it is exactly the kind of story Dads Love CIC is built to create more of.
Anthony left school in 2005 with an A-Level in Art and Design. In his early twenties, while working retail jobs across London, his mother was evicted and Anthony found himself homeless. Rather than allowing that experience to define him, he channelled it into purpose — training as a junior letting agent and working his way up to open his own property agency, Jeffrey Smith & Co, in 2015. For nearly seven years the business was a genuine part of the local community, sponsoring the Essex Road Giants — a local Islington football team — with company-branded kits on pitches across the borough.
After the agency closed in 2020, Anthony reinvented himself again. A stint at Netflix gave him space to reset. In 2024 he found his real calling — cooking. What began as a smashed burger operation out of his home in Tufnell Park grew into Smash N Grabz: freshly cooked smash burgers in brioche buns, served through pop-ups at respected London venues including Authentique, Rose & Crown and Bear and Wolf. Smash N Grabz has since served approximately 1,500 customers at the Ground Rules festival and has secured slots at AGfest and is in the running for the 2026 Notting Hill Carnival. His ethos: good food, fair prices, and whatever is left over goes back to the community in Tufnell Park.
Anthony is also a single father — which gives him an immediate, personal understanding of the fathers Dads Love CIC exists to support.
- Food provision: Smash N Grabz provides hot food at all Bank Holiday Family Days — approximately 300 burgers per event — ensuring every family has a shared meal regardless of income
- Property expertise: Supports fathers navigating housing and accommodation challenges following separation — a practical issue few community programmes address directly
- Events operations: Leads planning and logistics for all family days and community events
- Community credibility: A Londoner who has been homeless, built businesses, supported his local football team and given food away for free. Fathers will trust him immediately.
Santiago — Bilingual Mentor
Santiago
Bilingual Mentor
Santiago holds a Bachelor's degree in Economics and is fluent in eight languages, including German, English, Spanish, Italian, Russian, Turkish, Bulgarian and Portuguese. He brings five years of experience training and mentoring children and adolescents in football, alongside a background working as a social worker. During his studies he completed formal training as a mentor and coach, supporting students from a wide range of countries and backgrounds.
His strengths lie in interpersonal communication, organisation and coordination. Most recently, he served as Head of the Sales department at Sightseeing in Vienna, bringing structured, target-driven experience alongside his mentoring background.
Santiago is himself a single father, giving him direct, personal understanding of the fathers Dads Love CIC exists to support.
- Language access: Delivers sessions in multiple languages, opening participation to fathers across the UK who are not confident or fluent in English — removing a barrier that excludes many families from existing support
- Mentoring expertise: Five years' experience mentoring and coaching children and adolescents in football, plus formal social work experience
- Lived experience: A single father who understands first-hand the challenges the programme addresses
- Role at Dads Love CIC: Bilingual Mentor — Year 1 cost £15,000
Liban Hassan — Director of Social Media, Public Relations & Digital Communications
Liban Hassan
Director of Social Media & PR
Liban Hassan leads Dads Love CIC's social media strategy, public relations and digital communications, shaping how the organisation is seen and understood by fathers, families, funders and the wider public. He is responsible for planning and producing content across all channels, and for building the relationships with media and partners that carry the Dads Love message further.
His remit spans videography, photography and podcast production, capturing the real stories of fathers and families at football sessions, boxing, family days and mentoring — turning lived experience into content that builds trust and reach. He also leads influencer partnerships, digital marketing and campaign management, working to grow awareness of Dads Love CIC's work in London, Liverpool and beyond.
Liban is responsible for brand development, ensuring the organisation's voice and visual identity stay consistent and credible across every touchpoint, and for event media coverage — documenting Bank Holiday Family Days and community events so they can be shared with supporters, funders and the fathers who could not attend.
- Content & storytelling: Videography, photography and podcast production that capture the real impact of Dads Love CIC's programmes
- Public relations: Builds and manages media and influencer relationships that extend the organisation's reach and credibility
- Digital marketing & campaigns: Plans and runs campaigns across social platforms, driving awareness and engagement with fathers and supporters
- Role at Dads Love CIC: Director of Social Media, Public Relations & Digital Communications — leading brand development and event media coverage across all channels
Vision, Mission & Values
Vision
Mission
Values in Practice
| Value | What it means | How we deliver it |
|---|---|---|
| Presence | Consistent, predictable support matters more than grand gestures | Same time, same place, same team — we do not cancel without strong reason |
| Belonging | Every father belongs here regardless of background or history | No referral required, no means test, no judgement at the door |
| No Judgement | We meet fathers where they are, not where we think they should be | Our director models this personally — lived experience is at the heart of our approach |
| Community First | We build with and for the communities we serve | Coaches and mentors recruited from within communities; lived experience valued alongside qualification |
| Accountability | We measure honestly and act on findings even when uncomfortable | Monthly reviews, termly WEMWBS data collection, published annual impact report |
Programme Delivery
Dads Love CIC delivers across six integrated programme strands. Each strand is a distinct, low-barrier entry point. Fathers can join at any level without referral, assessment or prior engagement. Together the strands form a continuum from first contact to sustained positive change.
1. Football Coaching
Lead: Richard McMullen (FA Playmaker, FAN 68496719)
- Fortnightly term-time sessions, scaling to daily during school holidays
- Father participation required at every session — dads are on the pitch alongside their children
- Free to attend — no financial barrier to participation
- Structured to FA coaching standards, drawing on Richard's experience at Rapid Vienna and International Fussball Akademie
- Natural entry point into mentoring and wellbeing support for fathers who need more
2. Boxing
Lead: Paid qualified boxing coach
- Structured boxing sessions for fathers and their children led by a qualified paid boxing coach
- Discipline, focus and confidence through structured training — effective for engaging young people who do not connect with football
- Father participation embedded throughout — training together, not observing
3. Fortnightly Wellbeing Sessions
Lead: Mindy Tagliente — Wellbeing & Safeguarding Director (ordained Minister, 30+ years' experience)
- Fortnightly Zoom group sessions delivered by Mindy Tagliente, timed specifically for the period after fathers return their children to the other parent
- Focus areas: processing separation, managing isolation, building emotional resilience, co-parenting communication and self-leadership
- Individual sessions available for fathers requiring additional support
- Delivered remotely via Zoom — removing geographical barriers and enabling consistent access for fathers across both delivery cities
- Clear referral pathway to NHS IAPT and third-sector clinical services where need exceeds programme scope
4. Cinema Nights & Family Events
- Minimum 24 community events per year across London and Liverpool
- Free cinema nights, seasonal family activity evenings and community gatherings
- Designed to provide fathers and children with shared, positive, low-cost experiences
- CIC minibus provides transport where needed
5. Bank Holiday Family Days
Catering: Anthony Jeffrey — Director of Operations (Smash N Grabz)
- Eight dedicated Bank Holiday Family Day events per year — one on each UK bank holiday
- Full-day events combining football, boxing, activities and community time for fathers and their children
- Hot food provided at every event by Smash N Grabz — approximately 300 burgers per event — ensuring every family has a meal together regardless of income
- Open to all fathers and families in the community — no ticket price, no referral required
- Events supported by Anthony Jeffrey's community networks and events operations expertise
- Venue partnership secured: The Alchemist, Canary Wharf (London) — a major national bar and restaurant chain — has partnered with Dads Love CIC to host a number of family days and community gatherings, and has offered 50% off all food and drink at every Dads Love CIC event
6. Father Mentoring
- Structured 10–12 week one-to-one or small-group mentoring programme
- Richard McMullen available as lead mentor — providing genuine peer mentoring rooted in shared lived experience
- Content: confidence, communication with children, co-parenting, practical problem-solving and signposting to specialist services
- Self-referral or warm referral from football, boxing or events staff
- Clear scope and professional boundaries — mentors are not therapists; escalation routes documented in Safeguarding Policy
Community Hub — Year 2 Capital Project
- A Year 2 priority is to lease dedicated premises to serve as a permanent Dads Love CIC community hub
- Proposed facilities: gym, cinema room, wellbeing space for individual and group sessions, community office
- Eliminating venue hire costs permanently, creating a stable and identifiable community home for programme delivery
- The hub will also generate income through letting to community groups during non-programme hours
- Capital and lease funding will be sought through National Lottery capital grants, Sport England and local authority asset programmes
School Holiday Provision
- Daily football and boxing camps during Easter, summer and Christmas holidays
- Free or subsidised places coordinated with the DfE Holiday Activities and Food (HAF) programme where eligible
- Combined activity and food provision at every session — catering supported by Anthony Jeffrey
Vision Board — What Full Delivery Will Look Like
Theory of Change
| Stage | Description | Dads Love CIC |
|---|---|---|
| Inputs | Resources committed | FA qualified director; paid coaches; Ops Manager Wellbeing Mindy Tagliente (confirmed); Ops Manager Events Anthony Jeffrey (confirmed); venues; minibus; grant funding; brand platform (16,500+ reach) |
| Activities | Structured delivery | Football, boxing, fortnightly Zoom wellbeing sessions, cinema nights, Bank Holiday Family Days (catered), mentoring, holiday camps |
| Outputs | Measurable products | 300+ fathers; 500+ children; 8 Bank Holiday Family Days; 52 wellbeing sessions; 24+ community events; 10+ mentoring relationships |
| Short-term outcomes (0–6 months) | Immediate changes | Reduced isolation in the Recovery Window; increased father-child contact time; improved sense of belonging; initial wellbeing improvement |
| Medium-term outcomes (6–18 months) | Sustained changes | Improved WEMWBS wellbeing score; stronger father-child relationships; 75%+ sustained programme engagement |
| Long-term impact (3–5 years) | Systemic change | Reduced father disengagement in delivery areas; improved child outcomes; reduced demand on statutory mental health and social care services |
Evidence base: Sport England Uniting the Movement, 2021; Fatherhood Institute, 2022; EIF Best Start for Life, 2021; Mind Men and Mental Health, 2023; ONS Suicides in England and Wales, 2024.
Safeguarding & Policies
The safety and wellbeing of all children, young people and vulnerable adults is the highest priority of Dads Love CIC and overrides all other considerations. Safeguarding is the responsibility of every director, member of staff, coach, mentor and volunteer without exception.
Designated Safeguarding Lead
Mindy Tagliente serves as the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) for Dads Love CIC. With over 30 years of professional practice, Mental Health First Aid qualification and safeguarding experience in faith and community settings, Mindy is responsible for receiving and acting on all safeguarding concerns, liaising with statutory agencies where required, maintaining confidential safeguarding records and ensuring all staff and volunteers receive appropriate training proportionate to their role.
Safer Recruitment
- Enhanced DBS check (including children's barred list) required before any unsupervised contact with children
- Two satisfactory references verified before first session for all coaches and mentors
- No individual works alone and unsupervised with a child at any time
- Appropriate staff-to-child ratios maintained at all sessions
Responding to Concerns
- All concerns reported to the DSL on the same day — no threshold for reporting
- All concerns recorded in writing and stored securely in line with UK GDPR
- Where immediate risk exists, emergency services (999) are contacted first
- DSL refers to children's social care where the statutory threshold is met
Safeguarding Adults & Vulnerable Fathers
- Where a father discloses a personal safeguarding concern, staff follow the same same-day reporting process to the DSL
- Mindy Tagliente's professional training and experience ensure that wellbeing sessions are delivered with appropriate clinical boundaries and clear escalation protocols
- Clear referral pathways to NHS IAPT and third-sector services are maintained for all fathers whose needs exceed programme scope
This policy will be formally reviewed by a qualified external safeguarding professional before delivery begins.
- Activities are accessible to fathers from all backgrounds; reasonable adjustments made wherever possible
- 'Father' includes biological, step, adoptive, foster fathers and any consistent father-figure — participation is never gatekept on narrow definitions
- Coaches and mentors actively recruited to reflect the diversity of communities served
- All allegations of discrimination investigated promptly and transparently
- Written risk assessment for every venue and activity type before delivery begins
- Qualified first aider and fully stocked first aid kit at every session involving children
- Minimum £5 million public liability insurance before any public-facing activity
- All accidents recorded; RIDDOR-reportable incidents reported to HSE within statutory timeframes
- The organisation will register with the ICO as a data controller before any participant data is collected
- Data collected only for clear, lawful purposes; held securely; deleted when no longer required
- Breaches posing risk to individuals reported to the ICO within 72 hours
- No photographs of children published without written parental consent
Governance & Financial Controls
Dads Love CIC is constituted as a Community Interest Company limited by guarantee, regulated by the CIC Regulator and Companies House. It is subject to the statutory Asset Lock and must file an annual CIC34 Community Interest Report alongside standard company accounts.
Governance Structure
Dads Love CIC is governed by its Founder and sole Director, Richard McMullen. He holds overall legal responsibility, governance, safeguarding accountability, financial oversight and regulatory compliance. Operational delivery is supported by two Directors — Mindy Tagliente (Wellbeing & Safeguarding Director / DSL) and Anthony Jeffrey (Director of Operations) — who lead within their respective areas.
| Role | Person | Responsibilities | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Founder & Director | Richard McMullen | Overall governance, strategic leadership, financial oversight, safeguarding accountability, funding strategy, regulatory compliance and organisational management | In post |
| Wellbeing & Safeguarding Director / Designated Safeguarding Lead | Mindy Tagliente | Leads all wellbeing and safeguarding delivery. Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) — responsible for receiving and acting on all safeguarding concerns, liaising with statutory agencies, maintaining records and ensuring all staff training. Therapeutic programmes, volunteer support and referral pathways. | Confirmed in post |
| Director of Operations – Logistics, Catering & Events | Anthony Jeffrey | Leads all catering, logistics and event operations — Bank Holiday Family Days, family events, transport and community engagement. | Confirmed in post |
| Treasurer / Finance Lead | Actively recruiting | Finance or accounting background | Conversations in progress |
| Second Director | Actively recruiting | Governance, community or finance background | Conversations in progress |
Financial Controls
- Dedicated CIC bank account with Wise — open and ready to receive funding
- All income and expenditure recorded using Xero or equivalent from day one
- Dual authorisation required for all expenditure over £500
- Monthly management accounts reviewed at board level
- Annual accounts prepared by a qualified accountant and filed within statutory timeframes
- All restricted grant funding tracked separately by funder
Reserves Policy
Dads Love CIC will maintain a minimum operating reserve equivalent to one month's core running costs by the end of Year 1, building to three months by the end of Year 2. Reserve levels are reviewed annually by the board and reported in annual accounts.
Asset Lock
All assets and profits are permanently dedicated to community benefit. In the event of wind-up, all remaining assets pass to another asset-locked body. This provides funders with statutory assurance that their investment cannot be diverted for private gain.
Year 1 Programme Budget
Individual applications tailored to each funder's priorities
Detailed Budget
| Cost Item | Detail | Year 1 Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Football coaching — sessional fees | Qualified sessional coach, both cities, full programme year | £18,000 |
| Boxing coaching — sessional fees | Qualified boxing coach, both cities, full programme year | £18,000 |
| Wellbeing & Safeguarding Director / Designated Safeguarding Lead (Mindy Tagliente) | 52 fortnightly Zoom sessions + individual support sessions | £26,000 |
| Venue and pitch hire | Community venues, both cities, full year | £24,000 |
| Community Hub — lease and fit-out | Leased premises: gym, cinema room, wellbeing space, office | £85,000 |
| Bank Holiday Family Days (x8) | 8 events; venue, activities, logistics per event | £32,000 |
| Catering — Smash N Grabz (Anthony Jeffrey) | ~300 burgers per Bank Holiday event x 8 events + cinema nights | £28,000 |
| Minibus — purchase and running costs | 9-seat second-hand minibus, insurance, fuel, maintenance | £18,000 |
| Cinema nights and family events (x24) | Venue, equipment, refreshments, transport | £12,000 |
| School holiday camps | Easter, summer and Christmas — daily delivery both cities | £16,000 |
| Father mentoring programme | Mentoring materials, training, coordinator time | £8,000 |
| DBS checks, safeguarding training, first aid | All staff, coaches and volunteers | £4,500 |
| Insurance (Public Liability, Employers' Liability, Professional Indemnity, Directors' & Officers' Liability, Equipment Cover) | Comprehensive insurance: Public Liability £350, Employers' Liability £300, Professional Indemnity £250, Directors' & Officers' Liability £200, Equipment Cover £100 | £1,200 |
| Marketing, outreach and branded kit | Print, social media, coaching kit both cities | £6,500 |
| Administration, accounting and governance | Accountant, Companies House, ICO, policy reviews | £5,500 |
| Director time and coordination | Richard McMullen — programme leadership and delivery | £18,000 |
| Bilingual Mentor (Santiago) | Mentoring and coaching sessions for non-English-speaking fathers across the UK | £15,000 |
| Contingency (approximately 10%) | Applied to total programme costs | £11,150 |
| Total Year 1 Programme Budget | £346,350 | |
Funding Strategy — How We Will Raise £346,350
| Funder / Source | Programme / Fund | Target | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| National Lottery Community Fund | Awards for All (up to £10k, rapid) then Reaching Communities | £80,000 | Q1–Q2 |
| BBC Children in Need | Main grants programme — children and family focus | £50,000 | Q2 |
| City Bridge Foundation | London focus — poverty and social exclusion | £40,000 | Q1–Q2 |
| Garfield Weston Foundation | Community and welfare | £30,000 | Q2 |
| Sport England | Uniting the Movement / Active Together | £25,000 | Q1 |
| Local Authority Grants | London borough and Liverpool City Council VCS funds | £30,000 | Q1–Q2 |
| Corporate Sponsors | Sportswear, family and grassroots-aligned brands | £40,000 | Q2–Q3 |
| Trusts and Foundations | Male mental health, child poverty, family wellbeing focus | £25,000 | Q2–Q3 |
| Community fundraising and events | Annual gala, supporter fundraising | £28,650 | Q3–Q4 |
| Total | £346,350 | ||
Sustainability Plan
Dads Love CIC's long-term financial sustainability is built on income diversification. No single funder will represent more than 40% of annual income by Year 3. The organisation is committed to building multiple income streams beyond grant dependency.
Three-Year Income Forecast
| Income Stream | Year 1 | Year 2 | Year 3 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grant funding (Lottery, trusts, foundations) | £175,000 | £200,000 | £180,000 |
| Local authority / commissioned services | £30,000 | £90,000 | £180,000 |
| Corporate sponsorship | £40,000 | £80,000 | £120,000 |
| BBC Children in Need / major trusts | £50,000 | £60,000 | £70,000 |
| Community Hub venue hire income | £0 | £30,000 | £60,000 |
| Events, fundraising and supporter income | £28,650 | £30,000 | £50,000 |
| Brand partnership contribution | £25,000 | £40,000 | £60,000 |
| Total | £346,350 | £530,000 | £720,000 |
Statutory Commissioning
Year 1 impact data — collected using WEMWBS and the outcome framework in Section 11 — will be used to open statutory commissioning conversations with local authorities in London and Liverpool. Evidence of measurable outcomes with hard-to-reach fathers represents exactly the provision local authorities are seeking to commission to reduce demand on children's services and mental health pathways.
Community Hub
The Community Hub lease in Year 2 eliminates venue hire costs permanently and generates venue hire income from letting to community groups. This creates a stable financial foundation for long-term delivery independent of grant cycles.
Ambassador Programme
Dads Love CIC has connections to elite sport at the highest level — including Richard's godson Jayden Danns (Liverpool FC) and cousin Leon McKenzie (professional footballer and boxer). A formal ambassador announcement is planned for Year 2 and carries significant potential for corporate sponsorship and national media coverage.
Impact Measurement & Reporting
The Warwick-Edinburgh Mental Wellbeing Scale (WEMWBS) is used as the primary validated outcome tool — the instrument major funders including the National Lottery Community Fund expect to see in applications of this type.
Year 1 Outcomes Framework
| Outcome | Indicator | Tool | Timing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Improved father mental wellbeing | WEMWBS validated score | 14-item WEMWBS | Pre, 12 weeks, 6 months |
| Increased father-child contact time | Self-reported frequency of shared activity | Structured pre/post survey | Pre-programme and termly |
| Reduced isolation in Recovery Window | Self-reported isolation score | Pre/post survey | Monthly |
| Improved father confidence | Self-reported confidence (1–10) | Pre/post survey | Pre/post each programme |
| Sustained engagement | % attending 4+ sessions per term | Attendance registers | Monthly |
| Pathway to wellbeing support | % progressing to Mindy's sessions | Internal referral tracking | Monthly |
Reporting Cycle
| Frequency | Activity | Audience |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly | Attendance, delivery vs plan, safeguarding log review | Director / DSL |
| Termly | WEMWBS data collection, participant surveys, programme adjustments | Director, funders on request |
| 6 Monthly | Mid-year impact review, interim funder reports | Director, Treasurer, funders |
| Annually | Full impact report published, CIC34 filed, annual accounts | Public, Companies House, all funders |
| Year 2 | Independent external evaluation commissioned | Commissioners, funders, public |
Risk Register
| Risk | Likelihood | Impact | Mitigation | Owner |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Safeguarding incident | Low | High | Mindy Tagliente confirmed as DSL — over 30 years professional experience, MHFA qualified, safeguarding experience in faith settings; Enhanced DBS all staff; safeguarding policy externally reviewed before delivery; PLI in place | DSL / Director |
| Funding delay or rejection | Medium | High | Multiple funders targeted simultaneously; Awards for All submitted first as rapid early win; corporate and brand pipeline in parallel; delivery can scale to available funding | Director |
| Low initial attendance | Medium | Medium | Brand platform (16,500+) provides immediate outreach; sessions free; father-to-father referral is primary driver; Bank Holiday Family Days create high-visibility launch moments | Director / Ops Manager Events |
| Director capacity | Medium | Medium | Mindy Tagliente and Anthony Jeffrey share delivery responsibilities; Treasurer and second director being recruited; Programme Coordinator budgeted Year 2 | Director |
| Community Hub lease delays | Medium | Medium | Venue hire budget maintained as fallback; programme delivery not dependent on Hub in Year 1; Hub lease pursued in parallel | Director |
| Volunteer shortages | Low | Medium | Brand community pipeline; programme graduates recruited as volunteers; FA coaching networks engaged | Director |
| GDPR / data breach | Low | Medium | ICO registration before data collection; GDPR training all staff; secure systems; breach procedure documented | Director |
Brand Platform & Community Reach
The Dads Love Brand — A Community Already Built
Before Dads Love CIC existed on paper, Dads Love existed in people's hearts. The Dads Love clothing brand — @dadsloveclothing — has been building an authentic community of fathers, families and supporters for several years. With 16,500+ Instagram followers and over 13,000 profile views every 30 days, it gives Dads Love CIC an immediate outreach platform that most new organisations spend years trying to create.
The brand's tagline — For The Ones Still Pushing — says everything. It was built for the fathers who keep showing up, who keep travelling, who keep trying, even when it is hard. Every person who follows that account is already aligned with the mission of Dads Love CIC. That is not a marketing asset. That is a community.
The Dads Love clothing brand (@dadsloveclothing) provides an established community outreach platform that gives Dads Love CIC immediate reach that most new organisations take years to build.
Analytics available to funders on request. Figures verified at point of submission.
- Fathers and families across the UK
- Professional athletes and footballers
- Public figures and community advocates
- Football, family and lifestyle audiences
A written arm's-length partnership agreement governs the brand-CIC relationship. All transactions at fair market value, disclosed to funders and recorded in accounts.
Dads Love brand campaign • @dadsloveclothing • instagram.com/dadsloveclothing
The Story Behind the Mission
Richard McMullen travels regularly between the UK and Austria to maintain his relationship with his daughter Natalia. Every fortnight he makes that journey — because showing up is what fathers do, even when the distance is real and the cost is high. That experience is not background detail. It is the reason Dads Love CIC exists.
Richard McMullen with his daughter, Natalia
High-Profile Sporting Connections
- Jayden Danns — Richard's godson, plays for Liverpool FC
- Leon McKenzie — Richard's cousin, former professional footballer and professional boxer
- Ambassador and patron discussions in progress — formal announcement planned for Year 2
Wider Audience & Network
The Dads Love Clothing following has organically attracted engagement from individuals across professional football, professional boxing and the music industry. These individuals are organic followers and supporters of the brand; at present, no formal endorsement, sponsorship or paid partnership exists with any named public figure beyond the family connections listed above.
The founder's personal and family network spans professional football, boxing and mixed martial arts, giving Dads Love CIC a credible route to formalise ambassador relationships as the organisation grows. Any public figure named in future materials as an ambassador, patron or supporter of Dads Love CIC will only be included once a written agreement and their explicit consent is in place — planned as a Year 2 priority.
Partnership Strategy
| Partner Type | Purpose | Target Partners | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Schools & MATs | Referral routes, venue access, HAF programme | Primary and secondary schools in delivery areas | To be approached Q1 |
| Local Authorities | Grant funding, commissioning, family hub integration | London borough; Liverpool City Council | Applications Q1 |
| Football Clubs | Venue, coaching network, credibility | Grassroots clubs; community arms of professional clubs | Introductions in progress |
| Mental Health Services | Referral pathway beyond programme scope | NHS IAPT; Mind; Samaritans; social prescribing link workers | To be formalised Q2 |
| Family Hubs / GP PCNs | Referral in and out; social prescribing | Local authority family hubs; PCN link workers | To be approached Q1–Q2 |
| Dads Love Brand | Community reach, outreach, sponsorship pipeline | @dadsloveclothing — 16,500+ followers | Arm's-length agreement to be formalised |
Community Interest Statement (CIC36)
Part 1 — Description of Activities
Dads Love CIC will deliver football coaching sessions, boxing coaching sessions, Bank Holiday Family Day events, cinema and family activity nights, father mentoring programmes, fortnightly wellbeing sessions and school holiday activity provision. Activities are primarily for fathers, children and families in London, Liverpool and, as the organisation grows, in Teesside and the wider North East of England. All activities are designed to strengthen the relationship between fathers and their children, improve the mental health and wellbeing of fathers, reduce family isolation, and provide accessible free or low-cost community activity for families who may not otherwise be able to afford or access it.
Part 2 — Community Benefit
The activities of Dads Love CIC provide benefit to the community by reducing father disengagement and isolation; improving outcomes for children through increased positive father involvement; supporting male mental health in communities with elevated rates of suicide and isolation; addressing the school holiday activity gap for low-income families; and providing structured mentoring and professional wellbeing support to fathers experiencing the consequences of separation. The need is evidenced by national data: nearly one in four fathers lose meaningful contact with their children within two years of separation; the North East has the highest suicide rate of any English region; and the annual cost of family breakdown to UK public services is estimated at £51 billion.
Part 3 — Who Will Benefit
The primary beneficiaries are fathers, children and families in London, Liverpool and, in later years, Teesside and the wider North East, with particular focus on families experiencing poverty, father absence or the mental health consequences of separation. Sessions are open to all fathers and father-figures — biological, step, adoptive, foster and any man playing a consistent father-figure role. All activities are free or low-cost. No family is excluded on the basis of financial circumstances.
Part 4 — Community Interest Test
A reasonable person would consider all of the activities of Dads Love CIC to be for the benefit of the community. The organisation exists entirely to serve fathers, children and families in deprived communities across England. All assets and surpluses are dedicated permanently to community benefit through the CIC Asset Lock. The founder established Dads Love CIC because of his direct personal experience of the challenges facing fathers — not for commercial gain.
References — Full Citations
| Statistic | Full Source |
|---|---|
| Children not living with both biological parents by age 16 (~50%) | Millennium Cohort Study, UCL Centre for Longitudinal Studies, 2023 |
| Fathers losing meaningful contact within 2 years (1 in 4) | Gingerbread, in association with DWP Separated Families statistics, 2023 |
| Male vs female suicide rate (3.6x higher) | ONS Suicides in England and Wales: 2024 registrations |
| North East highest regional suicide rate (15.1 per 100,000) | ONS Suicides in England and Wales: 2024 registrations, regional breakdown |
| Annual cost of family breakdown (£51 billion) | Relationships Foundation, The Cost of Family Failure Index, 2023 |
| ROI on early father intervention (up to £8 per £1) | Early Intervention Foundation, Cost-benefit analysis, 2023 |
| Active father involvement: 40% fewer behavioural difficulties | Early Intervention Foundation, The Best Start for Life, 2021 |
| London: 1 in 3 children in poverty | Trust for London, London's Poverty Profile, 2025 |
| Tower Hamlets highest child income deprivation (71.3%) | GOV.UK English Indices of Deprivation, MHCLG, 2023 |
| Liverpool among 5 most deprived local authorities | GOV.UK English Indices of Deprivation, 2023 |
| Sport-based interventions effective with hard-to-reach men | Sport England, Uniting the Movement Strategy, 2021 |
| Community peer support reduces male isolation | Mind, Men and Mental Health Report, 2023 |
| Non-stigmatising entry points reduce help-seeking barriers | Fatherhood Institute, Engaging Fathers in Family Services, 2022 |
| Holiday Activities and Food Programme | Department for Education, HAF Programme Guidance, 2024 |
Building a National Movement
Dads Love CIC is more than a community organisation. It is a movement built on the belief that every father matters and every child benefits when fathers are supported.
We stand beside fathers during the quiet moments after contact ends, through isolation, mental health challenges and relationship breakdown, helping them reconnect with confidence, purpose and hope.
Strategic Community Partnerships
The Alchemist Canary Wharf
Dads Love CIC has secured a partnership with The Alchemist, Canary Wharf — a major national bar and restaurant chain — to host a number of Dads Love CIC family days and community gatherings. The Alchemist has offered 50% off all food and drink at every Dads Love CIC event, helping reduce financial barriers and create quality family time.
Digital Reach
Dads Love CIC also benefits from an established digital community through Dads Love Clothing and confirmed collaborations with content creators and fatherhood advocates, helping extend awareness campaigns and community engagement across the UK.