Spending time with children on Fathers Day for most dads, is a precious time.
But it can also be very tough for the fathers who are estranged from their kids.
In the UK one in three children live without a father, and according to the campaign group Fathers4Justice 220 children will lose contact with their Fathers every day in secret courts.
In custody battles, only 20% of cases will fall favourably to Fathers, leaving 3.8 million children fatherless in the UK.
One person who has encountered this exact situation is Matt Crouch. The 38 year old from Filton, was denied access to his children, and last Father's Day was unable to see his children.
He said: “ Father's Day is a special day for dads, it's the most special day of the year for myself, I always look forward to it.
“I have three beautiful boys. So last year was particularly difficult for me.”
Matt was denied access to his children by his partner, and ensued a long custody battle.
He continued: “I spent 13 long weeks feeling alienated, and being away from my kids. The reason for this felt like nothing more than just spite, because we broke up.
“I felt frustrated, angry and helpless with the situation. It was one of the toughest things I ever had to go through.”
One of the hardest things for Matt was when he went to pick up one of his children from school.
“He called me Matt, not Dad. That was painful. Hello Matt, he said. It killed me.”
He feels very strongly about the role that Dads have to play in children's lives.
“I believe we as dads have a duty, as mums do, to be in constant contact with our kids.
“It’s very unnatural for kids not to see one parent. I can’t speak for all dads of course, and am sure there are some circumstances where this isn’t viable, but on the whole there must be ways to try and mediate this.”
After a court battle, in which he ‘spent thousands’, Matt was eventually given custody.
He is in the minority, as only 20% of cases rule in the Fathers favour in court in the UK. He said: “I rightfully won the right to see all of my beautiful boys, and was over the moon. But it is something I will never forget. So hard.
“I really feel for other father’s out there that are maybe not as fortunate. Particularly for those that cannot afford the legal costs, of which there are so many.
“It is something I will never forget,” he added.
Matt, who is a boxing promoter, plans on putting on a boxing event for dads later in the year. He hopes this will raise funding and awareness of the issue he has suffered from.
He said: “I am calling on all dads who have experienced the same as me, who want to put something back to all come together. Come to watch, and even compete if you like.
“I’m willing to put the gloves back on and box myself as the main event.”
The night of boxing will provide an opportunity for anyone, whether experienced or not, and all proceeds going to support fathers, to ‘help them attend court with money behind them.’
As Fathers Day comes Matt will be seeing his children this year, being given 50% access, a full 182 nights per year. He acutely recalls last year, and also the birthdays and Christmas he missed.
He stated: “It was tough, but luckily for me there was light at the end of the tunnel, and my advice would be to never give up on your kids.
“For those that do see their kids this Fathers Day, make it a special day for both of you. I know I will."
