Becoming dad at 18 'felt like world had stopped'

Josh Race-Wiborg said he did not get congratulated when he found out he was going to be a father at the age of 18

A young father said finding out he was going to be a dad at 18 felt like his "world had stopped."

Josh Race-Wiborg, 22, from County Durham, is one of four young dads appearing in a new BBC documentary Joe Swash: Forgotten Dads.

The Sunderland University student said becoming a father to twin daughters at a young age was a frightening prospect, and recalled how it was "soul-destroying" to not have anyone congratulate him on fatherhood.

"I wasn't in a job I enjoyed, I was still living with my parents. I didn't know what to do," he said. "It was a really scary time."

Josh, who is an ambassador for North East Young Dads and Lads (NEYDL), a charity that provides parenting and community support for young fathers, said people's reactions to his news were "full of shock and disappointment".

He said his cousin announced her pregnancy not long before he and his partner Katie shared their news, and the reaction was "completely different" receiving messages fillled with "support and congratulations" where he was met with negativity.

"It's not the case now - my family love them to bits, but at the time I remember feeling like I was disappointing everybody," he told BBC Radio Newcastle.

Josh, far left, says he was never congratulated on the birth of his twin daughters until he found the support group NEYDL.

The new BBC documentary is fronted by Joe Swash, who also became a father at a young age.

The show follows Josh and three other young fathers, and shares their untold stories.

Josh remembered the mixture of wonder and fear he felt when he first held his twin daughters, Autumn and Winter.

"I remember holding them for the first time and I was just crying my eyes out," he said.

"I didn't know where my life was going to end up."

"Something so amazing happens, but the rest of the world see it as something so negative," he added.

Josh and Katie, with their twin daughters, at their wedding earlier this year

Josh has had many opportunities since becoming a young dad, from being offered a job with NEYDL and a placement at the University of Sunderland, to appearing in the BBC documentary.

He is studying Childhood Studies at the university while working full time as a peer enabler for the charity.

"I still feel like an imposter," he said.

"I've got a lovely job that I absolutely love, I'm at university full time [and] I've got a gorgeous family.

"I've got everything I ever wanted - and that's because I'm a young dad."

Josh married Katie in July, which forms part of the documentary.

"Your age doesn't define how great of a dad you are," he told BBC Radio Newcastle.

"If we can just shed a bit of a positive light on young dads and young parents - if we can just change one person's mind - then to me, that's worth it."

Fay Cavagin, senior lecturer in childhood and primary education at the University of Sunderland, said Josh is bringing "amazing experience and skills" which will change the lives of children and families.

"He's already sharing his own experiences as part of class discussions and helping shift perceptions around young dads.

"We will all be tuning in to see him on TV," she added.

You can watch Joe Swash: Forgotten Young Dads on Monday 20 October at 20:00 BST on BBC Three, and on BBC iPlayer.