‘The goal of the club is to provide a space where dads can get together, build and paint models, and play tabletop games’
A host of companies are supporting Joe Setterington with the launch of the new community group(Image: Donna Clifford)
A history loving Hull dad has launched a new community group on the back of his passion for building models and tabletop games. Dad-of-three Joe Setterington, of Sutton, is calling upon fellow fathers to come along to his newly-launched non-profit project in Hull, aptly called Dads War Room.
A keen enthusiast of games including Bolt Action – a World War II themed tabletop game in which players assemble, paint, and command a force of soldiers, vehicles, and artillery – he has discovered the huge mental health benefits playing can bring. That provided the inspiration for Dads War Room, which hosts its first event this month.
Joe, 38, who lives with their partner Fay and their 15-month-old son Theodore, said: “I came out of work due to illness, got bored at home and was diagnosed with autism and ADHD. And I got sick of being stuck in by myself. I needed to pick up an hobby.
“I came across Bolt Action which is World War II based. I love World War II history and I’m constantly researching local history about the town, stories of local heroes like Arthur Maslin and the crews of the Mulberry Harbours, and how the Prudential building got bombed.
“It’s right up my street. But the only places you can really play with others are slap-bang in the middle of town. I thought, why not set my own group up? So Dads War Room is for dads or people in the same boat as me who find it hard to get out there.
“The goal of the club is to provide a space where dads can get together, build and paint models, and play tabletop games like Bolt Action. More importantly, it’s a peer-support hub designed to help men talk, decompress, and look out for one another.
“As a city, Hull has a legendary spirit borne from the Blitz, so we’ll be keeping that history alive in the club—sharing stories of local heroes like Arthur Maslin and the crews of the Mulberry Harbours—to remind our members of the resilience this city is built on.”
Since hitting upon the idea Joe has been in contact with games makers, including Warlord Games and Bridlington company The Mighty Lancer, who are backing the launch of Dads War Room by supplying table top games and equipment.
War World Gaming is partnering with him to bring their full retail display and terrain kits to Hull, Geek Villain is providing professional-grade gaming mats for the tables, and Rubicon Models is also providing highly-detailed historical vehicle kits. Meanwhile, Warbases UK is also offering sponsorship and support with hobby materials and bases.
As well as posting about Dads War Room on social media and on local gaming pages, he has also created leaflets to post around the area ahead of the big first day – January 28 at Sutton Methodist Church.
He said: “It’s just snowballed. All these other model companies are supporting me and to be honest, I’m struggling to keep up with it! But I’m really passionate about getting this off the ground because I know I’m not the only person in this boat, who is stuck in house, can’t really socialise and likes a bit of modelling.
“It’s a non-profit organisation too. I’m not out there to make money off the back of people. The only thing I would charge you for is to cover the rent of the hall and supplies.
“I’ve also been sent an introductory game set for a game called Konflikt 47 , which is like bolt action, but ‘world war weird’. I’m also in touch with Mighty Lancer Games at Bridlington who are pretty big in Bridlington.
“A game company is sending me table mats, and a Scottish company has sent me a load of little markers to put in the tables and stuff like that. It’s great publicity for them as well, isn’t it? It just gets people playing their gear.”
He added: “The group is just about socialising and bringing people in to socialise and get them out of their house, and out their own heads. Life couldn’t be better for me at the minute. So I thought, why not spread that and help somebody else get to where I am now in life.”
The first Dads War Room night takes place on Wednesday, Jan 28, at 7.30pm to 10pm at Sutton Methodist Church, Hull. The first night is free and following nights will be £6 to cover rent and equipment.