It was when my marriage broke up that the loneliness started. My ex won custody, and I was only able to see my son for two hours a week. That felt like my heart had been ripped out of my body. I kept trying to find things to do to occupy myself but it was hard. It was such a lonely time for me.
Even now, after going through the courts so I can see him more, there are days when I feel lonely. It is mostly when I come home from work - not having someone there. I feel the loneliness of not having my child there with me.
I’d been coming to Action for Children’s fathers’ group before my divorce, and missed the people, so I started volunteering. Initially I worked with the early years groups, then moved on to the fathers’ groups and the crèches. I help out as much as I can, no job is too big or too small.