As new family-friendly legislation comes into force next week, so the work-life balance charity Working Families has secured lottery funding to launch an e-help service via text and email.

The service is particularly aimed at dads because research has shown that men prefer texting and email to phone lines.

The service will allow ‘callers’ to email or text their questions about maternity and paternity leave, and flexible working to the Working Families helpline team. New software, funded by the Big Lottery Fund, will convert text messages to email.

Dads who text or email a question will receive a reply in the same format. If they have more questions, they can continue emailing or texting, but will be encouraged to talk direct to the helpline team to receive specialist advice or telephone coaching.

Working Families chief executive Sarah Jackson said: “We think children need their father’s time and attention, as well as their mother’s.

“Studies show that children whose fathers have been actively involved in their lives have higher educational achievements, more satisfactory relationships in adult life and less likelihood of being in trouble with the police.

“And yet 40 per cent of fathers in the UK work more than 48 hours a week. So, the focus of the project is to give fathers information about their rights at work and encourage them to apply for flexible working hours.”

Working Families’ research revealed that fathers were less likely than mothers to request flexible working and more likely to have their requests turned down.

Lottery funding has also allowed the charity to open the helpline on three evenings a week, as well as from 10am to 4pm on most weekdays.